It all started a couple of years ago while Hardesty was on his delivery route in the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods. The New Orleans native began taking pictures with the dogs and posting the photos on his Instagram account using the hashtag: #pupsofjay.
The social media account grew quickly and dog owners along the route began to ask the ‘very easily entertained UPS driver‘ if he’d take pictures with their dogs. With his rule of only sharing his selfies on Fridays only, he suddenly found himself with a backlog of pups waiting to get their picture taken with him.
One day, Hardesty delivered a package to fiction writer and essayist, Jami Attenberg. Attenberg went on to tweet about her run in with the UPS driver. The Times-Picayune’s NOLA.com picked up the story which further pushed this great story to a wider audience.
Hardesty’s Instagram account isn’t all for the dogs. If you follow him, you’ll also see the many gorgeous and colorful photos of houses around New Orleans that fill his feed along with the great pictures of him with his pups.
Who makes the best red beans and rice?
My grandmother makes the best. But I feel like I should also say my mom!
When did you learn to make red beans and rice?
I haven’t learned how to make red beans and rice yet. But when it’s time, I’ll learn from my mother.
What does red beans and rice mean to you?
Comfort meal.
What types of memories are brought up when you have red beans and rice?
I always think about the Red Beans Parade. It’s on Lundi Gras and I usually deliver all of their stuff so I always make that connection now.
What do you like to eat with your red beans and rice?
Fried Chicken
Do you only eat red beans and rice on a Monday?
No!
To keep up with Jason Hardesty and his adventures around New Orleans as he takes selfies with the pups of the neighborhoods, follow him at @JHardesty on Instagram. The photos shared here are from his Instagram account.
If you have not read the article by Laura Testino of NOLA.com, you can find it here: New Orleans UPS driver shares photos of the pups on his route.
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Keep the red beans cookin’!
Eric
Eric Olsson is the food blogger of RedBeansAndEric.com. He publishes new recipes and interviews weekly. He has developed recipes and written articles for the famous Camellia brand in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been mentioned in Louisiana Cookin‘ magazine and has had recipes featured in Taste of Home magazine – with his Creole Turkey recipe being runner up in their annual Thanksgiving recipe contest. He lives outside of Detroit, Michigan, with his wife and four children.
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