No One Was Untouched
On
one day, New Orleans was one of the undisputed culinary capitals
of the world. Its 3,700 restaurants – from out of the way mom and
pop po-boy stands to legendary palaces of haute cuisine – were the
center stage of the city's colorful culture of hospitality, one fueled,
as always, by superlative food.
The next day, almost all of the cherished multi-billion dollar industry was in ruins. Much of its workforce was homeless and evacuated from the city. Its suppliers were in chaos. Its stores and wine collections and buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. Its patrons were stranded in other cities.
This presentation — created for students and staff at Johnson and Wales University, North Carolina — offers an overview of the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the restaurant and associated industries in the New Orleans area. It also looks at the first steps toward recovery for the industry and the indomitable cultural phenomenon that is great eating in New Orleans. This web site offers the text of the presentation made on March 15, 2006, a restaurant damage photo gallery, the text of the questionnaire used in gathering information for the presentation, and some useful links for tracking the progress of the New Orleans restaurant scene. We have also compiled a section of "Restaurant Stories" briefly covering the fate of individual New Orleans establishments. Learn more here.