At the Little Gem Saloon, located on the 400 block of South
Rampart where jazz historians believe was the birthplace of jazz, the audience
sang, “So Happy Together,” while the chef, Miles Prescott, commented, “Side
dishes are what make southern food.” I reflected, “Like the sidemen who make the music, who give it its zest
and structure and Je ne sais quoi, the intangible but the necessary.”
Fortunately, for the vegetarian music lovers, there’s a plethora of choices at
this little gem. One of my personal favorites was the Vegan Smoked Mushroom Jambalaya. The chef said that the secret
ingredients that give this dish an almost meaty flavor are the crimini smoked
mushrooms, sherry vinegar, smoked paprika, dark brown sugar and cayenne. It
oozed with smoky deliciousness. For
an extra medley of flavors, I took bites of the caramelized red cabbage and
dropped this on top of the fennel mashed potatoes before carefully transporting
this layered concoction to my eagerly awaiting mouth. The ornate molding on the
ceiling of this original jazz venue and the 1903 structure itself also oozes
New Orleans sumptuous music history like the food’s flavors. I enjoyed this taste of history, one bite of many side dish at a time.
