New Orleans

Kim Laidlaw | September 15, 2005 | 1 Comment

The incredible outpouring of support that New Orleans has received from so many people worldwide has been phenomenal. It seems that everywhere I turn there are small businesses, large corporations, and individuals that are each trying to do something to help in the relief effort. Growing up in Texas, I was fortunate to have been able to visit the city of New Orleans on many occasions. There is truly nothing quite like it, with an energy all its own, a mixture of magical wildness and vitality, Southern hospitality, and an incredible cuisine all its own.

I may blog during the wee hours of the night, but in the daytime I work as a cookbook editor. I’ve devoted a good part of the past 2 1/2 years to working on the Williams-Sonoma Foods of the World series. In a twist of fate, one of my books in the series, Foods of the World New Orleans, was released in stores shortly before Katrina devastated the area. Williams-Sonoma recently announced that they would donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the book to the American Red Cross in support of its hurricane-relief efforts until October 16. The book is available in Williams-Sonoma stores now and can be purchased online. It is a beautiful tribute to the city and the people of New Orleans, and many restaurants, food artisans, small businesses and other individuals in the culinary community of New Orleans were involved in making this book happen. For me, this book is a tribute to those people, and my heart goes out to them.

Category: Bay Area Bites Food + Drink

About the Author (Author Archive)

My life is, in a lot of ways, devoted to food. I've been a baker, a cook, a bartender, a waiter, a restaurant host, a restaurant critic, a food writer, a caterer, a food stylist, a prop stylist, a hand model, a food photographer, and an editor (all with varying degrees of success). I currently make my living as a cookbook editor and a writer. I'm addicted to cookbooks. I even have a (small) room nearly devoted to them. Well that and my baking table. I love British chefs. They are so where it's at. And they make gorgeous cookbooks. I love Fergus Henderson, Nigel Slater, Jamie Oliver, and Anthony Bourdain (even though he's not a Brit). I cannot wait to eat at Kitchin in Edinburgh. Someday I'd love to meet Ferran Adria. I'm incredibly opinionated about food, and probably a wee bit arrogant (about food that is). I am a huge believer in local, seasonal, sustainable, organic food and a big supporter of small farms and artisan producers. I love farmers' markets, and not just the one at the Ferry Building. I feel very lucky to be able to live in San Francisco, and have access to such an incredible array of artisan foodstuffs, produce, meats and seafoods. I like culinary adventures and I'll try (just about) anything once. Some of my more memorable food adventures: digging a deep BBQ pit and burying a whole pig; roasting a whole pig on a spit; making a paella for 150 people over an open fire on the hottest day of the summer, but really enjoying the frozen margaritas that were handed to me; clam digging on Puget Sound; the Pig Dinner at Manresa; curing my own charcuterie; making beer that was actually quite good; and slinging spirits at St. George. (I'm finally starting to learn more about wine and spirits, in particular, Italian wine and Scotch whisky, two new loves in my life.)