New Orleans' Food and Beverage Festivals

Local Flavor Reinforced and Preserved in Historic City Events

Jan 22, 2009 Jacqueline Church

Preserving and strengthening New Orelans' prominent food culture and cocktail history are goals of two festivals. New Museum also speaks to history of cocktail culture.

From Shrimp to Sazeracs - Food to Cocktails - New Orleans culture is celebrated and preserved

From Gumbo to Jambalaya, Andouille to Tasso, Sazeracs to Peychaud's to the very origins of the word "cocktail" - New Orleans food and beverage culture runs deep and strong. There is a growing awareness that cocktails can be approached in a culinary fashion. This elevated profile of the American cocktail makes other resources such as the museum in New Orleans and two food and beverage events even more relevant to gourmet food lovers.

Much of the world divides its New Orleans history into post-Katrina and pre- . Many others prefer to acknowledge the levees' failures, while focusing on the rich history that remains almost uninterrupted. This continuity and preservation is largely due to a handful of devoted culinarians and their dedication to sharing the rich culture of food and cocktails the city is so famous for.

Books, museums, events and conferences all combine to raise funds still needed for rebuilding and to spread knowledge of its unique heritage.

Gourmet New Orleans Events & Resources

Reading about Food and Drinks of New Orleans:

In the Land of Cocktails - Two cocktail mavens of the family owned and operated institution, Commander's Palace, Ti Adelaide Martin and Lally Brennan take you through classic cocktails with proper instructions - about hand chipped ice or the proper hats for afternoon drinks. Over a hundred recipes and tons of stories - it is a hoot. (Subtitled: Recipes and Adventures from the Cocktail Chicks - ISBN: 9780061119866; ISBN10: 0061119865; Imprint: William Morrow Cookbooks).

Cooking up a Storm- grew out of the work of Judy Walker and Marcelle Bienvenu. Walker was a Times-Picayune food editor and Beinvenu, a Cajun cook who had earlier published, “Who’s Your Mama, Are You Catholic and Can You Make a Roux.” What the New York Times' Kim Severson called perhaps "the best-named cookbook in America."

See also: Gumbo Tales reviewed here.

Museum:

The cocktail gets its due and its own digs! The Museum of the American Cocktail - dedicated to preserving history and sharing the evolution of the American cocktail. Located in the Southern Food & Beverage Museum it is a living museum with regular classes and seminars

Organizations:

The Southern Foodways Alliance - documents and celebrates the diverse food cultures of the American South. Writers such as John T. Edge and Sara Roahen are instrumental in capturing food traditions and histories in danger of otherwise disappearing. Black and white, rich and poor -- all who gather -- may consider our history and our future in a spirit of reconciliation. Their site is an excellent resource for anyone interested in southern food.

Events:

Two events in particular bring food and beverage aficionados together in New Orleans.

New Orleans Food and Wine Event - will be held May 19 – 23, 2009, "invites the world to visit, sip and taste their way through one of America’s most unique cities.” Nationally recognized as one the most prestigious festivals of its kind NOWFE brings 175 wineries and 1000 wines over the 5-day event, which now continually raises over $125,000 annually for local charities.

Chef Gala event includes names like John Besh and Donald Link, and many more. Vintner's dinners, Royal Street Stroll and two days of tasting events in the Superdome make this a huge fundraiser for various charities in and around New Orleans. Culinary training and education are among the top recipients including the John Folse's Culinary Institute. The size of event and caliber of participants make this a top event for foodies from far and wide.

Tales of the Cocktail - July 8 - 12. The event kicks off in the historic Hotel Monteleone's Carousel Bar. Tales of the Cocktail, a culinary and cocktail festival, features award-winning mixologists, authors, bartenders, chefs and designers in the New Orleans French Quarter at five days of cocktail events. Come join us for dinner-pairings, cocktail demos and tastings, seminars, mixing competitions, book signings.

The copyright of the article New Orleans' Food and Beverage Festivals in Gourmet Food is owned by Jacqueline Church. Permission to republish New Orleans' Food and Beverage Festivals in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Adelaide

In the Land of Cocktails

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