Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table

In"GumboTales"SaraRoahencelebratesNewOrleans'foodculture,onespecialityatatime.Acocktailismorethanaseguetodinnerwhenit'saSazerac,ananise-laceddrinkofryewhiskeyandbittersindigenoustoNewOrleans.ForWisconsin-bornRoahen,aSazeracisalsoafineaccompanimenttorawoysters,alookingglassintothecocktailcultureofherownfamily-andonemorewaytogainafootholdinherbelovedadoptedcity.Roahen'sstoriesintroducereaderstoNewOrleans'well-knownsignatures-gmbo,po-boys,redbeansandrice-anditslesser-knowngems:thephoofitsVietnameseimmigrants,thebracioloneofitsSiciliansandtheya-ka-meinofitsstreetculture.Byeatingandcookingherwaythroughaplaceasuniqueandunexpectedasitsinfamousturducken,Roahenfindsahome.AndthenKatrina.Withhumour,poignancyandhope,sheconjuresupacitythatrevelledinitsfoodtraditionsbeforethestorm-andinmanywayshasbeensavedbythemsince.