Our return to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina found our wholesale food business in Mid-City flooded and without most of its roof. Since food was what we knew, we began selling BBQ from our trailer in the badly flooded Lakeview area, operating on neutral ground at Canal Blvd. and Harrison.

One thing led to another and here we are, like the city Herself, finding a new beginning. Life should be an adventure and this is ours. Note the Katrina waterline on the outside of the large steel refrigerator in the back of the dining room. We consider it an inspiration, proving that something good can be salvaged from tragedy.

Our building used to be an alley between two antebellum storefronts. The alley was filled in during the 1890s. This space has been used as many things over the years, including an antique shop, a police substation, an upholstery shop, the hair salon next door and as a tattoo parlor.

The name J’anita’s is a combination of the names of Craig’s parents, Jim and Anita Giesecke. Were they alive today, they’d be all about it.

Thanks to our families, Jeff at Parasol’s, the crew at Dick and Jenny’s, Jimmy Robinson, Jack Ware, Martha, NOLA Food Forum, CFYM, The Irish Channel Reprobate Society, Jim and Mack, Bill and Susan Bandy, Tom Shepard and too many others to name.

….and, of course, our customers. Thanks for being part of the adventure.

—Craig, Kim and Stu Giesecke

2 Comments

1. Parasol…

   Thanks for creating this blog. I thought it was a very interesting read. It is so interesting reading other peoples personal take on a subject….

   Trackback by Parasol — April 2, 2008 @ 1:45 am

2. […] while making preparations for Hurricane Gustav’s arrival. Metblogger Craig, a New Orleans restaurant owner and Katrina survivor, has chosen to weather the storm instead of abide by the mandatory evacuation […]

   Pingback by New Orleans MB Blogging Through Hurricane Gustav | Seattle Metblogs — August 31, 2008 @ 1:05 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.