Food, Culture, and Justice: the Gumbo that Unites Us All will be held at the
New Orleans Sheraton
in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana
500 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
About New Orleans
Before Hurricane Katrina sent us into exile, we thought a lot about food in New Orleans. Pre-Katrina, we talked about our plans for dinner while we ate lunch. The position a person took on serving muffulettas (hot or cold), on drinking coffee (with or without chicory) or on where to find the best beignets (Café du Monde or Morning Call) were matters of some importance—Our world was marked by favorite grocery stores, our social geography defined by the restaurants we preferred. It was said, perhaps mostly by restaurateurs, that tourists came to hear music, but left talking about dinner. Food connected rich and poor here and it connected black and white as well, although not everyone was always ready to acknowledge those connections.
–David Beriss, “What to Eat After the Storm”
New Orleans and South Louisiana have a distinctive place within American culture. Three hundred years and more than sixteen different waves of immigration have blended like a good gumbo to create a culture as varied and complex as it is unique. Long before the “locavore” or “slow food” movements, South Louisiana cuisine was based on local seafood, ingredients and dishes rooted in tradition.
The wholesale destruction of our economy and environment caused by the disasters of the past five years threatens the food culture and economic vitality of the region. The elimination of fisheries, restaurants and supermarkets – a trend well underway before the storms and oil – dramatically alters the food landscape of the region.
The entrepreneurial spirit of the residents has led to many innovative solutions drawing on the history of the area. Marketumbrella.org, the Sankofa Market, and many others carry on the tradition of public markets. Urban gardening, through the work of the New Orleans Food and Farm Network and Viet Village, is returning to many public and private spaces throughout the city. Innovative education programs carry on the agricultural history of the region through the work of Edible Schoolyard New Orleans and Our School at Blair Grocery.
These projects and many, many others are evidence that communities of the Gulf South are intent on rebuilding a vibrant, healthy and sustainable food system. The experience of the region holds many lessons for the rest of the country in bringing together food, culture and justice.
Directions and Transportation
Go to the transportation and directions page to learn about the closest airport, how to get to the conference, and transportation around town.
Lodging
Read more about our hotel discount rate and additional lodging options on the Lodging page.
Things to do in New Orleans
We have compiled information about various sites and activities to do around town in your free time. Go to the sightseeing information.
About the Location
Food, Culture, and Justice: the Gumbo that Unites Us All will be held at the
New Orleans Sheraton
in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana
500 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
About New Orleans
New Orleans and South Louisiana have a distinctive place within American culture. Three hundred years and more than sixteen different waves of immigration have blended like a good gumbo to create a culture as varied and complex as it is unique. Long before the “locavore” or “slow food” movements, South Louisiana cuisine was based on local seafood, ingredients and dishes rooted in tradition.
The wholesale destruction of our economy and environment caused by the disasters of the past five years threatens the food culture and economic vitality of the region. The elimination of fisheries, restaurants and supermarkets – a trend well underway before the storms and oil – dramatically alters the food landscape of the region.
The entrepreneurial spirit of the residents has led to many innovative solutions drawing on the history of the area. Marketumbrella.org, the Sankofa Market, and many others carry on the tradition of public markets. Urban gardening, through the work of the New Orleans Food and Farm Network and Viet Village, is returning to many public and private spaces throughout the city. Innovative education programs carry on the agricultural history of the region through the work of Edible Schoolyard New Orleans and Our School at Blair Grocery.
These projects and many, many others are evidence that communities of the Gulf South are intent on rebuilding a vibrant, healthy and sustainable food system. The experience of the region holds many lessons for the rest of the country in bringing together food, culture and justice.
Directions and Transportation
Go to the transportation and directions page to learn about the closest airport, how to get to the conference, and transportation around town.
Lodging
Read more about our hotel discount rate and additional lodging options on the Lodging page.
Things to do in New Orleans
We have compiled information about various sites and activities to do around town in your free time. Go to the sightseeing information.