roomplanners magazine - jun '10

is it Cajun? or Creole? what’s what with Louisiana cooking

there’s a lot to love about

the big easy

roomplanners www.roomplanners.com

JUNE 2010

New Orleans style

elegant eclectic

charming

2 www.roomplanners.com

a city, a style … too precious to forget It’s been 5 years since hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans.

The Crescent City suffered severe flood damage to 200,000 homes… many

of them among the most charming in America.

With many New Orleans homes still in need of repair, we‟ve dedicated

this issue to highlighting what makes this

city‟s architecture and design so special. New

Orleans‟ homes give us a glimpse into

America‟s golden age of design and some of

its most unique creations.

Sadly, at the time of this publication, the city

is again under siege; this time by an oil spill

that threatens their wildlife, seafood industry

and tourism. The tragedy of the past two

months motivated us even more to bring the

beauty of this city‟s culture, seen through the

design of its homes, to this issue.

You don‟t need to decorate in this style to

appreciate it, though you may be tempted to!

More than that, I hope this issue peeks your curiosity about New Orleans

enough to put it at the top of your list of places to visit... or even to help

restore. No other city in America offers such a unique mix of European,

American, African and Caribbean styles.

about roomplanners.com

Roomplanners.com is devoted

to making professional quality interior design easier to achieve.

We invite you to visit out web site

to browse hundreds of rooms for

ideas, or to take our survey to

identify your environmental

personality profile. We offer a

variety of free home decorating articles, including room critiques,

product reviews, cooking and kitchen ideas.

Our RoomCues™ offer concise, practical guidance and inspiration

on how to pull together a specific

look you love.

You‟ll find us online at:

www.roomplanners.com.

on the cover

An exuberant, eclectic mix of furnishings creates a relaxed

opulence in this Creole town-house in the French Quarter.

Hallmarks of New Orleans

interiors include a fondness for a more elegant past, a unique blend

of cultures and a tropical ambiance.

PHOTO COURTESY:

Richard Sexton

Loreen Epp President, RoomPlanners Inc.

All written information herein is copy-right ©2010 Room Planners Incorpo-rated. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from Room Planners Inc..

Our special thanks ...

A resident of New Orleans, Richard Sexton is a noted photographer,

artist, writer, critic, teacher and author. He specializes in the photography of architecture, design and landscapes.

Sexton‟s photos have been featured in books such as In the Victorian

Style, The Cottage Book, American Style: Classic Product Design from

Airstream to Zippo, in addition to books profiling New Orleans‟ archi-

tecture and interiors, Louisiana plantations and the Gulf Coast.

Several photos from his book, New Orleans: Elegance and Decadence

are featured in this issue. Published in 1993 and reprinted in 2003,

the book was dubbed “the best photography book ever done on the city.”

Right. Richard Sexton‟s books on Louisiana include: New Orleans: Elegance

and Decadence and Vestiges of Grandeur: The Plantations of Louisiana’s River

Road.

3

A little history helps make sense of this unique city. Louisiana

was founded by France in 1699 (...it seems Louis XIV wasn‟t

busy enough building Versailles?) The new colony‟s capital,

New Orleans, was named in 1718, taken over by Spain in

1762, taken back by France under Napoleon in 1800, then

sold to the United States three years later.

As if all this cross-cultural exchange wasn‟t enough, the town‟s

Spanish and French folks shared both swamps and soirees

with African American and Caribbean neighbors. New Orleans,

in fact, claimed a unique mixed race class early on, with many free

blacks mingling with whites, socially and culturally.

In part, this openness toward cultural relations, together with

the steamy tropical heat, gave the city its popular nick-

name, the Big Easy. To this day, the laid-back, laissez-faire

attitude that seeps through New Orleans‟ music, speech,

food, squares and rooms is undeniable.

In many ways, the city feels a little lost in time. Charm,

beauty and hospitality (of the old-fashioned kind) exist

in equal measure. Intimate narrow streets, hidden brick

courtyards, peeling plaster and lush, well-manicured

estates offer a glimpse of a past age of elegance.

While we openly admit that nothing beats seeing New

Orleans in person, we‟ve tried to summarize this

enticing city by highlighting 9 of our favorite features...

the city there‟s a lot to love about the big easy

orleans new

It’s not an easy thing

to describe one’s first impression of New Orleans…

...for while it actually resembles no other city upon the face of the earth, yet it recalls

vague memories of a hundred cities… of towns in Italy and in Spain,

of cities in England... of seaports in the Mediterranean

and of seaports in the tropics.

Lafacadio Hearn, 1887

www.roomplanners.com


the music the balconies

the restaurants the party spirit Carnival, for many

people, is New

Orleans. Starting

in January, two

months of balls,

masquerades,

feasts and parades

culminate in Mardi

Gras, a final week

that draws thousands of visitors for

dawn-to-dusk-to-dawn parties!

Quite literally, Mardi Gras means

Fat Tuesday, a reference to all the

serious merrymaking and indulgences

that culminate just prior to Ash

Wednesday, the start of Lent season.

Those balconies

and porches! The

miradors of the

Spanish, the galleries

of the French…

both recall a golden

era in the city and a

very charming way

to cool off!

Often thought to be French, the fancy

iron balconies in the French Quarter

were imported from Spain or made

locally by free black men. Iron

balconies became more elaborate

under 19th century Victorian influence.

Louis Armstrong,

Jelly Roll Morton,

the jazz funeral...

The city of New

Orleans birthed

some of the most

unique and memo-

rable music tradi-

tions in America.

From the clubs on Frenchmen Street

to the Louisiana Music Factory, few

cities offer such an embarrassing rich-

ness of homegrown talent. But it‟s the

intimate stages in local clubs or on

the street that mesmerize visitors most.

It’s true that some

of New Orleans'

finest restaurants

didn’t survive

Katrina. But others

emerged to cook up

all that seafood...

and those unique

Cajun and Creole

recipes. New Orleans‟ culinary

melting pot owes to its unique cultural

melting pot; a blend of French, Span-

ish, African and Caribbean traditions.

New Orleans restaurants are local

and unique… and tour books on the city

always suggest visitors “come hungry”.

the colors The unabashed

colors of New

Orleans’ Creole

townhouses and

cottage homes

seem rooted in the

zesty, vibrant hues

of the neighboring

Caribbean. But

these brighter, zestier tropical

schemes emerged in the early 20th

century.

Authentic New Orleans colors draw

more on the sun-washed colors of

Mediterranean countries, including

southern Spain, France and Italy.

New Orleans is

no stranger to

tough times. The

city has had its

share of fires, riots,

revolutions, sick-

ness, poverty and

natural disasters.

In August, 2005,

Hurricane Katrina flooded nearly

80% of the city. The recent Gulf oil

spill now threatens the city‟s seafood

and hospitality industries. But grave

devastation and excruciatingly slow

recovery has yet to dampen the

city‟s spirit of hope and hospitality.

the french quarter One of the oldest

and most famous

neighborhoods in

America, New

Orleans‟ French

Quarter is home to

artists, musicians,

Mardi Gras and very

charming buildings.

As the cultural heart of the city, it‟s

the perfect place to shop art galleries

or antique stores, to stop for a beignet

and café au lait in a shady courtyard

or to sample crawfish. It‟s also home

to the infamous Bourbon Street.

the garden district The city’s most

elegant antebellum

(pre-Civil war)

mansions are lush

and rather well-

coifed! Best of all,

they can be viewed

easily from the

South St. Charles

Avenue streetcar, with its back-in-

time wooden seats.

The Garden District was built by

northeasterners who moved south to

make it big during the 19th century

cotton boom, then built big homes

to match!

the cemeteries Known as Cities

of the Dead, New

Orleans‟ rows of

crypt-like tomb

houses and vaults

have provided

endless fascination

to visitors and

movie makers alike.

Above-ground burial places were

common in both France and Spain.

But it was New Orleans‟ high water

table that reinforced the tradition in

the New World; coffins buried

underground were known to float to

the surface after the first hard rain.

the resilience

5

brought their love of dressy décor and the pomp and

pageantry of their Catholic religion. The Spanish brought

their knack for building houses that last forever and look

better with age. Neighboring islanders brought their

open-air lifestyle and breeze-management skills!

The Anglos were people of British descent, born in the

American northeast. Many flocked to Louisiana after the

colony was purchased by the United States. They brought

their love of Greek Revival and Queen Ann décor.

New Orleans‟ rich, varied history has left us with a style

of home décor that really can‟t be found anywhere else.

New Orleans’ music, muffeletta and Mardi Gras may

garner the most tourist attention. But until you’ve seen

this city’s homes, you haven’t really seen New Orleans.

The unique mix… from Creole townhouses, cottages and

shotgun homes to majestic Greek Revival mansions… is

unlike anything you‟ll find in any other city.

Second only to New York as the largest port of entry into

America during the 19th century, settlers arrived from all

over, bringing their style preferences with them.

The Creoles were people of French or Spanish descent

born in the Indies or New World colonies. The French

The mirrors in her house are dim and their frames

tarnished, all her house is dim and beautiful with age. She reclines gracefully

upon a dull brocade chaise-longue…

and the draperies are arranged in formal folds.

She lives in an atmosphere of a bygone

and more gracious age.”

William Faulkner, New Orleans

Is it Creole? Or Anglo?

Creole...

townhouses, cottages and shotgun homes favored hall-less arrangements, sun-washed

color and eclectic, Old World charm. Located downriver, Creole homes featured

small homes with street-front balconies or

porches, colorfully painted window shutters and quaint, secluded courtyards.

Anglo-American... mansions and estates favored center or side-hall arrangements and the formal Greek

Revival architecture used back in Britain and the American northeast. Located

upriver, Anglo American homes featured

grand, column-clad architecture, deep porches and lush, fenced-in gardens.

on the inside eclectic, charming, elegant… a décor unlike any other

orleans new


6

paint colors

Behr 410D-4 / D-5

“fern”

Behr 360D-6 / D-7

“gold”

Behr 370E-4 /E-5

“maize”

Behr W-F-610

“antique white”

Behr 360F-4 / F-5

“old gold”

Behr 300E-1/ E-2 / E-3

“ginger”

Behr 700E-3 / F-4 / F-5 / F-6

“verdigris”

Behr 330C-3 / D-4

“brown sugar”

This exuberant, but elegant

palette reveals a touch of Paris, a smattering of the south of

Spain, a whiff of island style and a bit of bravado from

Victorian London.

There‟s no fear of using color

in New Orleans; a city where multiple cultures, intense

climate and fiery food are a daily way of life. But there‟s

something subdued about

even the boldest colors used in

New Orleans homes. They seem elegantly aged by time,

slightly romantic and even moody… as if always seen

under low light.

Behr 200F-4 / F-5 / F-6

“brick”

Behr 770F-6 / F-7

“wrought iron”

Behr 380E-2 / E-3 / E-4

“olive”

Behr 160D-4 / D-5

“watermelon”

faded elegance comes from

its mix of aged patinas, brick,

plaster, painted shutters,

waxed wood, tarnished

metals and just about any

older-looking furniture style.

There‟s no effort to conceal

age or wear here. In fact,

the style prefers to preserve

things just the way they are.

But what was common to

both was a love of elegance,

toned-down to suit a languid,

tropical lifestyle.

A room renovated in

„New Orleans‟ or „Creole‟

style today may follow the

traditional, but relaxed,

opulence the city is famous

for. But it may also mix old

and new to create fresh new

interpretations of this

unique style. In many ways

New Orleans offers wel-

come ideas for today‟s trend

to eclectic, unexpected décor.

The charm of a New Orleans

home is in its ambiance

more than its style. A feeling

of oldness, sensuality and

There‟s no one style of

furniture that identifies a

New Orleans home.

While French and Spanish-

inspired homes were rooted

in the Mediterranean‟s

romantic and picturesque

styles, English-inspired

homes reflected ancient

Greece and Italy‟s classic,

restrained styles.

room tips

Here they are… eight of our

favorite ways to achieve New Orleans, or Creole,

style at home. Read more

about each on the following pages!

colorful walls and painted trim feel exuberant and elegant

unmatched furniture inspired by French or English styles from the 18th and 19th centuries look inherited or bought at a flea market

one-of-a-kind objects look unique, personal and connected to a more elegant past

picture walls amass a lot of artwork together in all shapes and sized

tall windows & shutters recall French, Spanish and island architecture

ferns and fans add a lazy, tropical ambiance

iron furniture and furnishings look as fancy as they look strong

brick, plaster & paint feel old, permanent and weather-worthy

new orleans style

room décor...

A Creole-inspired interior features the ubiquitous tall ceilings, narrow French windows, mahogany-like furniture, planked ceiling, seagrass rug and French-inspired wall color. American Drew, Laura Ashley

Behr 710E-2 / E-3

“heath”

Behr 580B-5

“wedgewood”

Behr 520F-4 / F-5

“viridian”

Behr 790C-1 / C-2 / C-3

“pewter”


Camel-back sofas are a favorite in New Orleans-style interiors. Hooker Furniture, Beladora


colored

Perhaps it’s being around all those Cajun spices… all that tropical sunshine that fades anything but bold colors… or that melting pot of cultures from Paris to Port au Prince, from Seville to Sierra Leone. Whatever the inspiration, the use of color in New Orleans is nothing short of fearless, both in the exuberant choice of colors and how they’re used together.

New Orleans’ colorful hues look elegant, even if a little faded. Some are known by their French names... Paris green, Gros Rouge or Brun d’Espagnol, It’s believed these pretty hues were intended to complement skin tones. Trust the French to consider that when picking paint!

In a Creole home, walls, baseboards, planked ceilings, trim and doors are painted to preserve wood.

Left. A Creole-inspired dining room with a French country

influence. Drexel Heritage Furniture, Accents Francais

If the Cajun food isn’t enough, New Orleans’ room colors pack their own punch.

The elegant, flattering colors of 18th and 19th century New Orleans‟ interiors are featured in Interview with the Vampire (1994, Geffen Pictures). The movie includes plenty of French Quarter scenes.

A dilapidated, but colorful Creole home plays a starring role in A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004, Destination Films). The movie is a must-see; as much for the way it captures the city of New Orleans as for the story.

walls

New Orleans style Here’s how!

choose a wall color from

the New Orleans paint

color palette on page 6

cover walls with plenty of

artwork or furniture; it

tones down the brightest wall colors without losing

the dramatic backdrop they create

apply paint over a

textured plaster wall... or use a subtle paint

technique that simulates the texture of plaster

use paint, rather than

stain, on baseboards and

trim; go lighter or darker

than the walls

unless living in New

Orleans, avoid mixing too many bright colors

together. It‟s like wearing a Hawaiian shirt in

Chicago... some ideas

just work better in their local context...

8

furniture It’s unlikely to find matching upholstery and bedrooms suites in a Creole interior. An eclectic, collected-over-time quality is much preferred. Furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries… French or English, city or country... are favorite choices and freely mixed. The parlor is the prized room in a Creole home, and it’s rarely without a shapely camel back sofa, a few 18th century chairs, a well-dressed mantel, tall drapes or charming shutters. But formal gives way to familiar as traditional style is toned down with slightly faded, worn or aged-looking materials.

Left, Kincaid Furniture, Carriage House


avoid matching sets of

furniture

use a sofa or settee with a

shapely camel back

use velvets, brocades and

other formal fabrics from

the past; if they look faded or worn, even better!

place a settee or accent

chair in a bedroom

use French (Rococo) or

English (Victorian) accent chairs with button tufting,

shaped wood frames or curved cabriole legs

use mahogany wood

stain or grain; it recalls colonial furniture that

might have been imported from the West Indies

use small accent furniture

(small tables and drawer

chests, accent chairs, etc);

it helps create the eclectic, non-matching look

No one furniture style defines New Orleans interiors, though French influences die hard.

unmatched


The front parlor of an old Creole townhouse, Casa Hinard, in New Orleans‟ French Quarter. Notice

the mood of faded elegance and patina of age. A portrait over the mantel and a mismatched collection of antique Spanish and French furniture add Creole-style charm. PHOTO: Richard Sexton

9

objects one-of-a-kind



display a variety of old,

precious items together on

a mantel, table, ledge or shelf... mismatched photo

frames, religious icons, porcelain vases, old books,

hurricane lamps, Mardi

Gras beads or masks, busts, etc.

place an antique-looking

candelabra (or a pair) on a

table or mantel

place a crocheted lace

doily under a group of objects or an antique lamp

hang an ornate, antique

mirror or wall sconce on

the wall; the more elaborate and weathered,

the better!

hang an antique-looking

chandelier in a bathroom, bedroom or living room.

Choose one that looks tarnished and elaborate

Unique and disparate objects perfectly coexist in a New Orleans home and there’s little effort to coordinate them. With each object sharing traces of the past, an agreeable harmony results, despite the mismatching.

A chipped or faded surface is always welcome; it gives objects an inherited or old quality.

Such tendencies to display favorite objects is rooted in a French appreciation for beautiful things in the 18th century... and a ferocious Victorian penchant for collecting in the 19th.

Left. A collection of one-of-a-kind frames are anchored by a crocheted doily. The mantel is the favorite palace to display unique objects. PHOTO: Richard Sexton

New Orleans interiors are perhaps most famous for how they’re accessorized.

Ornate, tarnished French candelabras, like those seen in Interview with the Vampire (1994, Geffen Pictures), are a must-have accessory in an authentic New Orleans home, alone or in a pair.

10


collect art with ornate or

antique gilded frames

avoid matching art pieces

or pairs; mix oval and rectangular shapes in a

variety of sizes

collect painting-like images

with rich Renaissance hues

lean large pictures or

empty frames against an

open wall

don‟t worry about placing

artwork together with furniture to create a focal

point—covering an entire wall or stairwell is more

authentic

illuminate large paintings

with a small brass art lamp

hang artwork over a richly

painted wall; a watermelon

hue is a favorite

hang artwork on the center

gables of a large bookcase

picture

Exuberantly covering an interior wall with framed artwork is distinctly New Orleans thing to do.

Surrounded by so much artwork, Creole homeowners could peer

into the past. The ‘picture wall’ tradition also recalls Victorians’ habit of creating ‘picture rooms’ that simulated art galleries, or creating wall collages out of a variety of mismatched pictures.

Oil paintings with rich Renaissance colors and gilded frames are favored in older New Orleans homes, but any mix of size, shape

or style of paintings can create a New Orleans picture wall’, especially when they’re clustered together, or even leaned against walls or mantels. Left, paintings are casually leaned and hung against a richly-colored plaster

wall. PHOTO: Richard Sexton

This Creole living room offers all the richness of a European

art gallery. On a New Orleans picture wall, individual items matter less than the rich effect of all the items seen together. PHOTO: Richard Sexton

A love of history shows up all over New Orleans… but nowhere more than on walls.

Picture-rich walls are set against a deep watermelon-colored plaster wall in Double Jeopardy (1999, Paramount Pictures). The movie also features scenes in and around the French Quarter, including a look inside a French Quarter party and an above-ground cemetery.

walls


A wall of artwork seen against a white walls updates the look. Bernhardt Furniture

11

They’re tall, narrow, elegant and very European. Multi-sectioned French doors grace nearly all the buildings in New Orleans, recalling Paris apartments with their tall doors leading out onto narrow iron-clad balconies filled with flower pots.

Hinged shutters frame both windows and doors on Creole-style homes; a clever and practical idea in a tropical, hurricane-prone zone… and an undeniable hallmark of New Orleans style. Louvered shutters are believed to be uniquely Spanish; board-and-batten shutters more French.

Stanley Furniture, Serafina


make windows look taller

than they are by running

curtains from the ceiling

right to the floor

use curtains with a triple

thickness; let them pool slightly on the floor for a

luxuriously French look

use louvered plantation

shutters on windows

choose tall, narrow, multi

-paned French windows,

if buying new

install a set of double

doors between rooms; the narrower and taller, the

better

use patio doors that open

out, rather than slide

replace an interior wood

door with a French-paned

glass door

use louvered closet

doors; paint them a

New Orleans color

Tall, multi-paned doors and windows. Is there anything more charming… or French?

& shutters tall windows


12

ferns


hang fans from the ceiling

instead of lighting fixtures

use louvered plantation-

style blinds or shutters on

windows—they add instant tropical style and

cool summer breezes

use hardwood floors, if

budget allows, with faded

oriental rugs or textured seagrass rugs

use lush ferns and palms to

fill the corner of a room

paint shutters in a strong

New Orleans color; they‟re bold enough to not look

washed out under a hot sun

use wood or woven accent

chairs rather than fully

upholstered ones; they look

more tropical and relaxed

cover chairs or sofas with

white muslin slipcovers or sheets in the summer

It’s a compelling picture… lush ferns hung from wire baskets, enclosing porches or filling rooms ... tropical ceiling fans in every room... louvered shutters letting in a breeze... muslin slipcovers protecting furniture from perspiration and insects... hardwood floors with rolled-out area rugs that get rolled-up in the summer.

A New Orleans’ home feels summery and sultry, inviting us to slow down and cool off. With deep porches, windows clad with lush drapery or shutters (or both!)... interiors look slightly dim; shaded from the sunlight and protected from the elements.

Overhead fans and louvered window shutters create a breezy ambiance. Homes in New Orleans are

often pared back in the summer; carpets are rolled up and sofas covered with white muslin slipcovers. PHOTO: Richard Sexton

A sub-tropical climate and a by-the-bayou location makes it summer every day.

& fans


13


use a metal bed instead of

a wood one. Choose one with a simple, narrow

frame... or one that resembles a New Orleans

iron fence or scrolled gate.

use metal grills on a door,

window, fence or gate

use metal instead of wood

balusters for stair railings

use a large French lantern-

inspired lighting fixture

over the dining table

hang a wire-framed basket

filled with flowers or ferns

hang tall draperies from a

wrought iron curtain pole

place a cast iron bench, a

French bistro table and

chairs or a French lantern in an outdoor garden

use over-sized metal

hinges on shutters or doors

iron furniture

Were all those fancy iron balconies in the French Quarter a French idea? A Spanish import? A Victorian excuse to elaborate?

No matter. Curiosity about the origin of all that wrought and cast iron in New Orleans is usually quickly replaced by an appreciation for how well iron works as decoration rather than just structure!

In New Orleans, intricate, exquisitely detailed ironwork scrolls its way onto balconies, gates, fences, doors, planters, staircases, beds, lanterns, candelabras and more.

Cast and wrought iron in New Orleans has all the twists and turns of a mystery novel.

The elegant iron balconies of New Orleans‟ French Quarter are featured in both King Creole (1958, Paramount Pictures, with Elvis Presley, top) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951, Charles K. Feldman Group, with Marlon Brando, bottom).

& furnishings


14

brick, plaster


use tall, elegant

baseboards and wide window and door trim

paint baseboards,

window and door trim in

a New Orleans color,

instead of staining

trim interior doorways

with extra-wide trim

add a planked board

ceiling for an authentic Creole cottage look, a

plastered ceiling for a Creole townhouse look

use plaster-covered walls,

or a textured paint finish that gently simulates

aged plaster (a very slight

color texture is all that‟s needed; avoid heavy,

exaggerated faux finishes)

use brick for interior

walls, outdoors patios or

courtyards

New Orleans homes suggest centuries of attempts to resist harsh weather conditions and intense heat.

Simulating something between old-world European ruins and color-rich Caribbean island architecture, the walls of

Creoles homes may utilize brick, plaster, painted wood, or a combination of all three.

Painting wood trim, shutters or ceilings preserved them from weather and insects… and offered Creoles more places to add color)! Brick walls clad with plaster were used to re-build city center homes after disastrous fires in 1788 and 1794. Today, these materials suggest the romantic ambi-ance of bygone days.

Left. Creole kitchens were often simpler than other rooms in the

home, with their rustic cypress tables and stand-alone cabinets.

A look of permanence, a patina of age... suggest homes that have been through a lot.

& paint

PHOTO: Richard Sexton www.roomplanners.com

Rich-colored plaster walls with over-sized painted trim is seen in Double Jeopardy (1999, Paramount Pictures, with Ashley Judd).

15

Is it Creole? Or Cajun?

A rich, multicultural heritage.

Waterways teeming with fish

and seafood.

Together they created what we know today

simply as New Orleans, or Louisiana-style

cuisine.

Creoles ... were named after Europeans (mostly from France and

Spain), Caribbeanites and Africans born in New Orleans.

These first residents continued

to cook with foods from their homeland, including beans,

rice, tomatoes, peppers, sauces and sausages. Combined with

fresh local ingredients, their cuisine became an eclectic

melting pot!

New Orleans’ cuisine is deeply rooted in two cultures

and cuisines... Creole and Cajun. Together, they‟ve

created a dynamic cuisine known as the food of Louisiana.

A rich local supply of shellfish (crawfish, crab, shrimp and

oysters, alligator, redfish, flounder, snapper and catfish),

along with a rich cultural heritage continue to inspire area

chefs, restaurateurs and home cooks. Among them, New

Orleans‟ Chefs Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse

have helped raise the profile of the city‟s cuisine and

champion flavorful Southern-style cuisine.

Sadly, residents now worry about the Gulf‟s recent oil

spill and its effect on their precious supply of seafood.

on the menu where else could you find such a culinary melting pot?

orleans new

The terms are often used interchangeably, but there are

unique differences between Creole and Cajun cooking.

With roots in a classical European cooking tradition,

Creole cooking tends to be more sophisticated. With roots

in a more rustic cooking heritage, Cajun cooking is more

peasant-like. Many Cajun recipes, for example, are made

with a dark roux (a mixture of fat and flour) to add texture

and flavor; Creole recipes use butter and cream instead.

Cajun foods also tend to be more robust in flavor than

Creole cooking, though Creole food is spicier.

Cajuns… were named after French Acadians exiled by the

British from eastern Canada (Nova Scotia). They settled

in a swampy area west of

New Orleans where they lived on the wildlife they

found on land and in the water including duck,

chicken, pork and seafood.


16

...some of New Orleans legendary dishes & ingredients

Dirty rice gets its name

because of the addition of

meat, giving this dish a dark

appearance. Typically, the

meat used is chicken livers and

giblets. This version uses a

blend of ground beef and pork.

1 tbsp (15 mL) cooking oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 ribs celery, very thinly sliced

125 g (1/4 lb) extra lean ground beef

125 g (1/4 lb) lean ground pork

1 teaspoon (5 mL) Creole Seasoning (recipe follows)

2-1/2 cups (625 mL) cooked white rice

3 green onions, thinly sliced

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion

and celery; cook and stir until onion is soft and celery is

tender-crisp, about 6 or 7 minutes. Add ground beef and

ground pork; cook until meat is browned, stirring often

to break up. Drain off any fat. Add seasoning, rice and

green onions. Cook for a few minutes until rice is heated

through. Taste and add more seasoning, if desired.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Wendi Hiebert is a home economist

and food writer, living in Kitchener, Ontario. For more of her recipes,

visit www.CookingQuarters.

wordpress.com

quarters cooking

southern dirty rice

creole seasoning Use this seasoning blend to add a Creole flavor to eggs, rice,

casseroles and vegetables. Recipe Source: Emeril Lagasse

5 tbsp (75 mL) paprika

1/4 cup (60 mL) garlic powder

4 tbsp (50 mL) salt

2 tbsp (30 mL) freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp (30 mL) onion powder

2 tbsp (30 mL) cayenne

2 tbsp (30 mL) dried oregano

2 tbsp (30 mL) dried thyme

Combine ingredients, blending well. Store in an airtight

container for up to 3 months. Shake or stir well before use.

Makes about 1-1/3 cups (325 mL)

(an-doo-ee)

Spicy smoked pork sausages used in dishes such as Red

Beans and Rice, Jambalaya

and Gumbo.

andouilee

(boo-dan)

Spicy ground pork sausages

made with onions, herbs and

cooked rice.

boudin

(bin-yay)

Deep-fried square yeast pastry

or fritter served with pow-

dered sugar. Can also be savory (eg. herb or crab).

beignet

(ka-fay broo-low)

Coffee, spices, orange peel,

and brandy traditionally pre-

pared in a chafing dish, then ignited and ladled into cups.

café brulot

(ay-too-fay)

Tangy tomato-based sauce

usually made with crawfish or

shrimp.

etouffee

(fee-lay)

Seasoning made from the

ground, dried leaves of the

sassafras tree used to thicken and flavor gumbo and other

Creole dishes. A woodsy flavor.

file powder

Thick stew-like dish that can

be made with vegetables, meats, poultry and seafood.

gumbo

(jum-buh-lie-yah)

Versatile dish made with a

ingredients such as tomatoes,

onions, green peppers, celery, cooked rice, seasonings, and

ham, shrimp, and/or chicken. Many different varieties.

jambalaya

(muff-ah-leh-ta)

Layered sandwich made

inside a round Italian bread.

Layers include Italian meats, cheeses, and olives.

muffeletta

Sandwich served on French

bread. Legend says it began as a 5¢ lunch for poor boys! Many

versions exist...fried oyster, shrimp or potato, roast beef and

gravy, or softshell crab.

po-boy

A New Orleans staple, made

with kidney beans, seasonings, rice, spices and sausage.

red beans & rice

Freshwater crustaceans that

resemble small lobsters. Can be served in a variety of ways,

including boiled. Turn bright red when cooked. Also known

as crayfish or crawdads.

crawfish

Cooked rice sautéed with

green peppers, celery, onions, stock and giblets or other meat.

dirty rice

what’s what with Louisiana cooking


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