New Orleans

A Food Biography

Elizabeth M. Williams

• Publisher: AltaMira Press
• Year: 2012
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780759121386
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Agricultural Public Policy

Beignets, Po' Boys, gumbo, jambalaya, Antoine's. New Orleans' celebrated status derives in large measure from its incredibly rich food culture, based mainly on Creole and Cajun traditions. At last, this world-class destination has its own food biography. Elizabeth M. Williams, a New Orleans native and founder of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum there, takes readers through the history of the city, showing how the natural environment and people have shaped the cooking we all love. The narrative starts by describing the indigenous population and material resources, then reveals the contributions of the immigrant populations, delves into markets and local food companies, and finally discusses famous restaurants, drinking culture, cooking at home and cookbooks, and signature foods dishes. This must-have book will inform and delight food aficionados and fans of the Big Easy itself.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Series Foreword
• Preface
• Timeline
• Chapter 1: Introduction: A Real Cuisine
• Chapter 2: The Material Resources
• Chapter 3: The First Inhabitants and Their Foodways
• Chapter 4: The Old World in the New
• Chapter 5: Immigrants: Their Neighborhoods and Contributions
• Chapter 6: Markets, Retailing, and “Making Groceries”
• Chapter 7: Restaurants
• Chapter 8: Drinking in New Orleans
• Chapter 9: Cooking at Home and Cookbooks
• Chapter 10: Signature Foods and Dishes
• Bibliography
• About the Author