In New Orleans, the Taste of a Comeback

[elleng]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/dining/28note.html?hp

[cbayer]

1. I wish I were at Jazz fest. Planning to go next year, but that is so far away.

I miss the food more than I miss anything else about my city.

;(

[MajorChode]

2. It's kind of interesting to find out that a lot of Vietnamese restaurants are now there

I've seen a lot of run down areas revitalized by the influx of Vietnamese immigrants. It should be interesting to see what effect that will have on New Orleans.

[cbayer]

3. New Orleans had a significant VN population prior to Katrina.

Their community was in NO East and was primarily based around fishing. The restaurants in the area were treasured by many.

:hi:

[Warpy]

5. That was the only benefit of that terrible war

A lot of Vietnamese who had been aligned with the French came here and opened businesses, especially restaurants. I think Bourdain is correct, that the Vietnamese are the world's ultimate foodies, because all the places here are outstanding.

My favorite is a combo car inspection station on one side and a gas station turned into a restaurant on the other. Their food is simply out of this world, pure ambrosia. I also go to the inspection station when it's time to renew my registration and it's been wonderful to hear the owner's English improve over the 10 years they've been there.

I do remarkably good Chinese cuisine, but there's no way I'd attempt the subtlety of Vietnamese cooking. I'll go pay them to do it right.

[kestrel91316]

4. ZOMG. I love good food writing! And I wanna go back to NOLA.

I gotta have another oyster po'boy at Mother's........