Pableaux Johnson, renowned journalist, food writer, and advocate of New Orleans culture, passed away on Sunday at the age of 59. Known for his legendary Monday night red beans and rice dinners and his striking photographs of New Orleans’ second line parades, Johnson left an indelible mark on the city he cherished.
Johnson collapsed while photographing the Ladies and Men of Unity second line parade. He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance, where he was later pronounced dead, according to Brett Anderson, his friend and food writer at The New York Times.
Named one of Epicurious’s 100 Greatest Home Cooks of All Time, Johnson became famous for the weekly red beans and rice dinners he hosted at his Uptown home, which became a celebrated New Orleans tradition.
Epicurious once wrote, “If he’s taught us anything, it’s that it’s better to stay at home, cook simply, and invite over a few people you don’t really know.” Johnson’s influence extended beyond New Orleans through his traveling Red Beans and Rice Show, sharing the city’s cherished Monday-night tradition with people across the country.
“He loved this city and its food and was fiercely protective of it,” Anderson reflected.
Johnson was also a beloved presence at second line parades, capturing the vibrancy of New Orleans street culture through his photography.
His work included tributes to figures like Annette Tassin, a queen of the Black Mohawk Tribe, whom Johnson had photographed multiple times. Tassin, a great-grandmother and devoted New Orleanian, tragically passed away in a house fire during a historic winter snowstorm.
Johnson’s legacy lives on through his contributions to New Orleans’ culinary and cultural traditions, which he celebrated with passion and authenticity.
