It is a well-known and oft-documented fact that in New Orleans, red beans and rice is traditionally served on Mondays. Perhaps this is because Monday is the traditional wash day, and red beans and rice is an easy dish to leave on the stove cooking while the washing is being done. Or perhaps Monday is red beans and rice day because it's traditional to have a ham on Sunday and this is a good way to use the leftover ham and ham hocks. But according to Jamie Shannon, the reason is more practical: two starches served together do a fine job of soaking up the weekend's excesses.