What Makes a Great Gumbo?

What Makes a Great Gumbo?
Key elements of gumbo come from many sources, making it a common metaphor for the blending of cultures in New Orleans. Aimee Lee Studios/Shutterstock
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I gathered with a small group in a back room at SoBou, a Creole restaurant in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Each of us had a little cup of a deep brown stew with pieces of chicken and sausage rising above the surface and a small scoop of potato salad in the middle. This was the first stop on a food history walking tour with Doctor Gumbo Tours.

We tucked right in as our guide Beth Kennedy spoke (“You never have to wait to eat on our tours,” she told us), giving us a quick but comprehensive historical background on the Crescent City before introducing us to our first dish: gumbo.

Kevin Revolinski
Kevin Revolinski
Author
Kevin Revolinski is an avid traveler, craft beer enthusiast, and home-cooking fan. He is the author of 15 books, including “The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey” and his new collection of short stories, “Stealing Away.” He’s based in Madison, Wis., and his website is TheMadTraveler.com
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