Take a photo of a barcode or cover
lisacollins 's review for:
Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table
by Sara Roahen
Full disclosure: I live in New Orleans. And I enjoyed the author's restaurant reviews when she worked for a local weekly paper. So I was intrigued when I saw this book on the store shelves.
Roahen does not disappoint. She explores the history of local foods and traditions. But she keeps it interesting by building chapters around people with a deep connection to the subject. A city obsession with snowball stands is illustrated by her patronage of a neighborhood staple- and her eventual friendship with its owner. The annual tradition of building St. Joesph altars is told best through one woman's mission to keep her altar going and the army of people supporting her.
She explores foods I have no interest in eating (duck eggs, anyone?!?)- and yet her writing style kept me interested in reading about them.
I found the first chapter the toughest to get through but after that I was hooked. I learned a few new things about my city- and discovered a few new places to put on my ever-expanding "restaurants to try" list.
Roahen does not disappoint. She explores the history of local foods and traditions. But she keeps it interesting by building chapters around people with a deep connection to the subject. A city obsession with snowball stands is illustrated by her patronage of a neighborhood staple- and her eventual friendship with its owner. The annual tradition of building St. Joesph altars is told best through one woman's mission to keep her altar going and the army of people supporting her.
She explores foods I have no interest in eating (duck eggs, anyone?!?)- and yet her writing style kept me interested in reading about them.
I found the first chapter the toughest to get through but after that I was hooked. I learned a few new things about my city- and discovered a few new places to put on my ever-expanding "restaurants to try" list.