New Orleans Chefs Bare All for a Good Cause

“I was photographed outside of Turkey and the Wolf, standing there in nothing but an apron,” recalls the New Orleans chef Mason Hereford of his photo shoot for Jiggly Bits, a stylish and hilarious 2025 calendar featuring the city’s culinary superstars in all their birthday-suit glory (tastefully draped where it matters, of course). Still, “I think a few of the drivers heading down Magazine Street saw more than they expected.” 

In addition to restaurateur Hereford—who whipped up the special cover sandwich for Garden & Gun’s August/September 2024 issue—more than two dozen New Orleans chefs agreed to strip down and strike a pose in and around their restaurants for Jiggly Bits, the entire proceeds of which will benefit WeHelp NOLA, a partnership that works directly with restaurant and bar owners to provide employees with mental health access. 

“We took a lot of inspiration from the old 1970s cookbooks, a little of that risqué film vibe,” says the calendar’s creator and photographer, Kat Kimball, who partnered with the local creative agency GANZA on the design and layout. A veteran of the food and beverage industry and a beloved lifestyle photographer in town, Kimball had the right connections to convince her chef friends to strip. However, it was also her focus for philanthropy the sealed the deal.

“This calendar is something I’ve wanted to produce for a long time, and it has always been about making an impact and giving back,” Kimball says of the WeHelp partnership. “For each restaurant that signs up, WeHelp offers every employee two free therapy visits per month. Other modalities, like yoga, meditation, and life coaching, are also included. Mental health is lacking in so many healthcare packages, and it’s essential to succeeding in this industry.” 

Kimball and the Ganza team pored over 1970s imagery, as well as retro cookbooks, to create the calendar’s look. To that end, Jiggly Bits somewhat doubles as an homage to the midcentury obsession with Jell-O molds. “We spent entire days making Jell-O molds,” Kimball recalls with amusement. “Warren Ottey was our food stylist, who graciously volunteered his time and skills.”

Only five thousand calendars will be available when Jiggly Bits goes live for preorders on September 16 here through the New Orleans retailer Dirty Coast. If they sell out, WeHelp will receive $100,000. And while the full calendar is still under wraps, Kimball and her team shared a sneak preview, below.