Judy Burks is known as the “Red Bean Queen” at Jazz Fest, and it’s no wonder: 2022 marks her 46th year at the Fair Grounds. “It’s become a hit, and now tofu is on the menu as a protein option,” she adds.Ī post shared by Vegan New Orleans & Douglas “ we could help them out with a plain bun bowl without protein.” She and her mom presented a tofu option to the festival’s food committee and were approved to serve the vegetarian option Jazz Fest food lovers had requested. “We were asked by our customers for vegetarian options, but we’re restricted menu-wise out here ,” says Amanda. Along the way, they added a vegetarian option - bun (vermicelli) with tofu. We put in a bid and got it…it’s pretty awesome! To be included in a heritage festival is fantastic.”īa Mien began serving their Vietnamese dishes at Jazz Fest in 2009, and have been a festival staple ever since. “New Orleans and Vietnamese food are intertwined. “We thought, ‘why not,’?” recalls Amanda. Years later, the Jazz Fest food administration team approached Mai and asked if she’d be interested in presenting dishes for consideration to be served at the festival. Her mother, Mai, followed her dreams and opened Ba Mien Vietnamese Cuisine in 2001. from Vietnam in the mid-1970s, they settled in New Orleans. When Amanda Thien-Nga Althaus’s parents immigrated to the U.S.

One of those international influences comes to Jazz Fest courtesy of Ba Mien Vietnamese Cuisine. “Jazz Fest’s carefully developed menu encompasses traditional Creole and Cajun recipes, contemporary Creole innovations, New Orleans standards, and foods that reflect the rich influx of international influence in Louisiana,” reads the festivals website. New Orleans Jazz Fest Food Vendors to Seek Out for Vegetarian DishesĪ post shared by Vegan Nola Mien Vietnamese Cuisine “I love what the Fest has done for the music community and the city, and am more than delighted that we’re back. I’m soon to be 80, so I’m wondering if I’ll last until my 50th year at the Fest,” she says. “Being part of Jazz Fest is fabulous,” says ‘Red Bean Queen’ Judy Burks. We’re friends, and we care about each other.” The other part of the family is that our booth has been neighbors with other booths all this time. Those of us who scattered with Katrina, we come back. “It’s our main family reunion every year. My grandchildren and even great-grandchildren now are old enough to work in the booth,” she says.

When asked what returning to serve food at Jazz Fest for a 40th year, pie-maker Linda Wheat echoes the importance of community. It is a wonderful time filled with fun, incredible food scents, fantastic sounds, and unequaled art.” “We pray together, laugh together, sweat together, dig in and work really hard together, and at times we roll our eyes together. “Our friends - fellow vendors - that we’ve made over the years are like family,” she says. It’s not only biological family, but a family of fellow vendors and friends, too. They are now in their 30s and 40s and come work and have fun with us! Our 14 grandchildren are now are a wonderful part of building wonderful memories with us.” “It represents so much! We’ve been doing Jazz Fest for over 40 years, and all four of our daughters were basically in our booth since they were infants. “Jazz Fest is not so much an event to us as it is a community,” says Peggy Miranda, a longtime food vendor. The event is a terrific opportunity for local and regional food makers to showcase their fan-favorite dishes to the crowd, which, prior to the pandemic, was nearly 500,000 individuals spread throughout the week. Over the course of the seven-day festival, more than 500 acts playing a variety of genres of music will take to the festival’s 12 stages the eclectic mix of headliners includes Ludacris, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffet, Buddy Guy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Erykah Badu, Death Cab for Cutie, The Who, and Melissa Etheridge. In addition to all of the music, there’s an impressive Jazz Fest food lineup as well, with more than 200 tasty offerings. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival returns to the Big Easy this weekend. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!

Capital jazz fest 2022