Big Easy eats could spice up Dallas

[TexasStooge]

By BRAD WATSON / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - The taste of New Orleans may be more readily available in Dallas soon, as the effort to recruit restaurants displaced by Hurricane Katrina intensifies.

With more people moving to downtown and the city pushing redevelopment, there are more restaurant customers downtown looking for choices. Some say the flavor of south Louisiana food would be welcome.

"Large businesses work downtown, and really when we entertain clients and business associates, we don't have any places to eat," said restaurant customer Cindy Woodruff.

The partying and the great food served up by New Orleans restaurants may not return to the French Quarter and other neighborhoods for months. The staffs of many eating establishments fled and scattered like everyone else.

So, some restauranteurs and club owners in Deep Ellum want to offer a menu of opportunities.

"I think Deep Ellum is the perfect place to have a sort of New Orleans in exile, if you will, to do its part," said restaurant owner Brandt Wood.

Wood said there are at least ten buildings in Deep Ellum where restaurants could move in; six are available immediately.

He said the Dallas and New Orleans restaurant associations like the idea, and are getting the word out.

"When New Orleanians see this, I think that we've got a great chance of getting two or three operators in the next month," Wood said. "That's my goal."

Wood owns some of the open spaces, and is offering free rent to any New Orleans restaurant through the end of the year. He also said the effort could provide a much-needed image boost to Deep Ellum.