Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor
Left: Lynn Arcenaeaux, of Hurricane Restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana, shows off the facility's speciality - the Hurricane made of fruit punch and rum. He was among celebrity chefs invited to attend the United States Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson's July 4 Indepencence reception at Bank of Jamaica auditorium on July 9. Right:
Representing Café Du Monde at the American Independence celebrations, Kerry Swafford was kept busy serving up dozens of hot beignets at the United States' July 4 reception. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
EVERYONE WILL remember the devastating images that filled television screens in the days immediately after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Louisiana, last year. And if CNN's Anderson Cooper has his way, we will be kept abreast of the slow road to recovery for a long time to come.
But like a Broadway production, the show must go on and food, which sustains life, has to be eaten.
So, restaurants in the popular French Quarter and on Bourbon Street in the famous city are on the rebound. This was the consensus of celebrity guest chefs from New Orleans who attended Sunday's American Independence gala celebrations held in the auditorium and spilled out on to the balcony of the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ).
For Lynn Arcenaeaux, of Hurricane Restaurant and Bar, the return to normality is welcome.
At his establishment, the main event gives the drinker a small knockout punch with each sip of the drink Hurricane. It is made of four ounces rum and four ounces fruit punch in a giant sized glass.
Other favourites bear names such as Category Five Margarettas, Cyclone and Breeze.
GRADUALLY FILLING UP
Hurricane Restaurant and Bar is 70 years old and Arcenaeaux has been a part of the New Orleans establishment for 14 years. He told Food that it reopened in December last year and business has picked up gradually since that time.
"The jazz festival was good for us, but we continue to take things one day at a time. What we desperately want is for convention groups and tourists to come back to New Orleans. Our hotel rooms are gradually filling up again, he said."
Café Du Monde has been in the made-to-order coffee business for a long time. Headquartered at 813 Decateur Street in New Orleans, they were reduced to six of eight stores following the ravages of Hurricane Katrina.
GOOD FOR BUSINESS
Representing Café Du Monde at the celebrations on Sunday, Kerry Swafford told Food that the main café was not severely damaged at all.
"Only a portion of the roof was affected and we have managed very well in the recovery process. We lost two stores but one more will be opened in October," Swafford said.
But, both Mardi Gras and the recently-held New Orleans Jazz Festival were good for the business. The hotels filled up and many visitors came.
Café Du Monde is also famous for its delicious hot, fluffy beignets - a delicious treat that goes down well with coffee. Guests at the celebration could not get enough of these tiny treats.
If you have ever been to New Orleans, it would become obvious in a few hours that a thick bowl of gumbo is a must.
The 165-year-old Antoine's serves up a tasty helping. And, senior executive chef Michael Regua was also among the visiting experts on hand to ensure all enjoyed his speciality.
