re: New Orleans or Atlanta

how can you compare things that aren't the same? Size makes them fundamentally different.

ATL versus Houston makes sense, or NO vs Richmond, Memphis or Birmingham

quote:

---

You are giving the French just a tad to much credit, as if they were the only ethnic group to greatly influence creole cuisine.

---

WTF??

"Creole" is a word derived from the Spanish word "Criollo" which means people native to the area, and was used to describe people who derived from the time when France controlled a colony or territory. Louisiana is of course a big one, as are many of the Islands like Haiti which is why Haitians were also referred to as Creoles or native to the area in which France controlled, and explains why the confusion between the word Creole and black comes from. It's not a race. It's a French thing.

If it weren't for the French and Italians, but mostly the French in influence and technique, this country and England would be eating with our hands and boiling and grilling the shite out of everything. You know far less about food and this culture than I had initially given you credit for, and even less about French cooking technique and it's influence. While the English were conquering the waves, the French were fishing them and finding ways to make it really tasty, which the English apparently had less time for, so is why England, which makes up the vast influence in this country in culture, is not known for their cooking prowess, but rather their dining. They can't cook for shite, but they sure can hold a pinky out like nobody's business and play the game. Great manners, but the emphasis is rarely on the food, save people like Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay who are heavily influenced by that same French technique.

The fine dining you refer to is not black influenced, that influence had an impact on things like Gumbo. The Spanish influence can be seen in Jambalaya which came from their Paella. The Italians gave us the Muffuletta. However, none of that is what I am referring to when I talk about French Creole. It is New Orleans the melting pot of food, but not what I'm getting at in the major influence shaping New Orleans and the areas immediately surrounding it, and especially the higher end fine dining to be sure of.

That being said, and to further illustrate the French influence, the Cajuns are also French, but more country one pot cookers than anything else, and which they are renowned for. These are the two distinct influencers of this state's cooking and why South Louisiana takes food more seriously than just about anywhere in this country to date. If you drew a line in this state indicating where food is most important your line would also show where the French are most heavily populated in the state. That's no coincidence. That's the effect you're looking at from the French influence in this state.

Just curious. When did you initially give me credit for my knowledge of food or that culture? Because this is the absolute first time that I have commented on either on this site. When have we ever discussed technique?

And in all of your arrogant lecturing, you basically just agreed with what I said. You acknowledged more than french influence, which was my point. You made the exact same point about Cajun food that I did,only in way to many more words.

Born and raised in NOLA, currently live in ATL.

ATL is my preference, but don't think comparing these two is remotely the same thing. Obvious differences such as topography, business climate and hub airport makes the entire region feel/function differently. I lived in Dallas as well and think it is a better comparison between ATL and DFW (although DFW is now larger).

quote:

---

Mike da Tigah

---

You're putting so much effort into this thread. I haven't read any of your posts, fwiw.

quote:
Because that on that random Wednesday in New Orleans you can go to Lafayette Square after work to watch someone like Trombone Shorty at the Harvest the Music concert series (It is called Wednesday at the Square in the Spring)

quote:
And there isnt similar situation in Atlanta or Houston?


Not in Houston.

Homogenized regular ole Americans would prefer ATL. If you like it funky, than NOLA is for you.

NOLA...only 68 miles from Baton Rouge

Atlanta is a pretty good city to reside. Many quality neighborhoods in town like Inman Park, Va. highlands, Morningside, Midtown, Brookhaven, Druid Hills, Old 4th ward, Little a Five points, Edgewood, etc... It also has plenty of failed re-gentrification areas like West End(where my parents grew up in the 50s) Grant Park to a lesser degree and others. All told though, it is a pretty good city. I was born at Piedmont a Hospital and my parents moved to west Marietta when I was born in 1970. I lived ITP for years as an adult and enjoyed my years there. Still do....when I venture in but I know exactly where to go and what to avoid.

Been to NO many times and I love that city. I love it's culture and it's history. The Garden District is an exceptional community as well as a few others that many tourists never even explore. Most people associate NO with the French quarter and a party town. It is so much more. I would be happy to live in NO but home is home and as circumstance would have it, that is Atlanta area for me.


I