Louisa Kasdon: Founder of Let's Talk About Food

Photo by Michael Piazza

Louisa Kasdon, a native Bostonian who “grew up in the shadow of Fenway Park,” has done many things, from business to owning restaurants to writing about restaurants and food. But to her, putting together chefs, food scientists, educators and the public is at the crux. As the founder and CEO of Let’s Talk About Food, Louisa revels in creating a “conceptual tent” where people can explore food—where it comes from, how it’s made, what impact food has on our lives.

From its start in 2010, LTAF has blossomed into many small and medium-sized events such as talks, seminars and film screenings spanning the year. The climax each fall is a festival, which this past October drew 15,000 to a tent at Harvard to see cooking demonstrations, hear experts on sustainability and ways to combat waste, talk to farmers and restaurateurs and discuss all things food.

“It’s always been my intention,” Louisa says, “not just to educate people but to make it enjoyable.”

She’s upbeat: “I feel that Boston is a better, more interesting place to be involved in food than it was 10 years ago.” She’s always looking ahead—helping the Center for Science in the Public Interest set up an event in Boston, participating in the creation of a live cooking center at the Museum of Science that opened in November, exploring seed diversity.

Recently named a Cambridge Food Hero for 2018 and busy establishing a LTAF podcast, she says her “challenge is to create the legacy” for the future of food.

This story appeared in the Winter 2019 issue.