New Orleans
New Orleans is the diamond set at the end of the Mississippi River as it spills into the Gulf of Mexico. It stands unique in America as the only city that strongly preserved its old world Spanish, French and African heritage. Originally built along canals (called bayous), the city is actually an island encompassing 363 miles, and it is the only major American City built below sea level (-4 to -6 feet). Known as "The Big Easy" and "The City that Care Forgot," New Orleans is not only the home of great food and great music, but also the Cities of the Dead, exotic nightlife, voodoo practices, and, most importantly, a unique blend of cultures that created the Creole and Cajun people.
The French first settled New Orleans in 1717, based on a land grant given to Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, who named it after Phillipe, the duc d'Orleans. The land was literally a small island surrounded by the Mississippi River, huge Lake Pontchartrain, and swampy land. The thriving port city that emerged became the center of high society in the region. In 1762, all of Louisiana was given to the Spanish court but eventually reverted back to the French government before being sold to the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The descendants of the early French and Spanish settlers are still referred to as Creoles, with their own cuisine and style of living.
The Cajun culture descended from the French settlers called "Acadians" who originally colonized Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada. Expelled by the British in the 18th century, they fled south, ending up in colonies throughout Louisiana, particularly in the crown colony of New Orleans.
Together both cultures create New Orleans' distinctive atmosphere. The accent here is exclusive to the area and sounds nothing like a typical Southern accent. New Orleans itself is pronounced "N'awlins," and directions are never given in reference to North-South but rather by upriver or downriver.
New Orleans also boasts its own unique type of music. New Orleans jazz is brassier than that of Memphis and more upbeat playful than what you'll hear in New York or Chicago. Its roots are in rural Cajun music called zydeco, a happy dance music that uses violins, accordions and washboards.
Cajun food is hot and exotic. Often known as "country cooking," it usually involves a roux of fat and flower that adds body and color to the dish. Creole cooking is not as hot as Cajun, but it is very spicy and is famous for its sauces. The two styles are converging into a cuisine that is uniquely Louisiana. And no matter what is served for dinner, a praline, made of sugar, butter and pecans, is a great dessert treat.
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