Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana
Dedicated to the “discovery, understanding, and celebration” of the food, drink, and related culture of the southern United States, the Southern Food and Beverage Museum officially opened in 2008 in the Riverwalk Marketplace after spending four years in a temporary location. And though the museum is currently small, it offers much more than just some displays about the food of the South.
Currently, there are three permanent collections at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, known to its employees as SoFAB. The first – the SoFAB Library – is a repository for documents, books, and manuscripts about the food and drink of the American South. These are constantly being organized and categorized and will eventually be available to scholars and researchers and will be the basis of future exhibits at the museum. The Menu Project, which will also be made available to researchers, is a collection of menus from Southern restaurants old and new, ranging from New Orleans French to barbecue to old-fashioned cafeterias. Finally, the museum’s Archives and Artifacts area is a tangible collection of hundreds of items that pertain to the food business in the South.
While the permanent collections are not visible to the general public, there are a number of exhibits that the public can view. Some of these have remained at the museum since it opened while others change on occasion. Current and past exhibits include “Louisiana Eats” – a look at the development of the cuisine in New Orleans and in Louisiana in general; Southern Table – a collection of tableware from each Southern state; “Bananas is our Business” – a look at the cultivation and farming of bananas and its pertinence to the people of the South; and Southern Likker – which explores alcohol as it relates to Southern entertaining.
Probably the best thing about this museum, however, is the many events they sponsor throughout the year, all related in some way to the cuisine of the South. These include children’s culinary camp, a teen culinary corps that helps feed the homeless, and a host of events about food of different ethnic groups, cuisine associated with various holidays, and much more. Some of the events are held at the museum while others are sponsored by the museum and held at tables all over the Southern U.S.
In 2009, the museum initiated the First Annual Words in Food Symposium at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, a day-long event for the general public that brings to the museum food writers, historians, chefs, and other experts pertinent to the subject at hand. This is a tradition the museum hopes to continue.
Parents can also schedule their child’s birthday party at the museum. Open to kids ages 3 to 12, the parties include museum admission, party room rental, cooking instruction (kids eat what they cook), beverages, and a T-shirt for the birthday child. Party bags and decorations are available.
The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is open daily, with slightly shorter hours on Sundays. Special senior and student pricing is available.Return to New Orleans Travel Guide Home Page