New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest (more commonly known as Jazz Fest) that celebrates the culture of Louisiana and New Orleans. Named after the Duke of Orléans in 17th century France by members of the French Bourbon dynasty, New Orleans (La Nouvelle-Orléans in French) stands unique among all American cities: a French Creole architecture and cuisine with a unmistakable character, and in general a strong personality, all a result of a dazzling multi-cultural and multilingual heritage.
The French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. After New Orleans (La Nouvelle-Orléans in French) was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city developed around the Vieux Carré ("Old Square" in English), a central square. The district is more commonly called the French Quarter today, or simply "The Quarter," related to changes in the city with American immigration after the Louisiana Purchase.[1] Most of the extant historic buildings were constructed either in the late 18th century, during the city's period of Spanish rule, or were built during the first half of the 19th century, after U.S. annexation and statehood. Most of the French Quarter's architecture was built during the late 18th century and the period of Spanish rule over the city, which is reflected in the architecture of the neighborhood. The Great New Orleans Fire (1788) and another great fire in 1794 destroyed most of the Quarter's old French colonial architecture, leaving the colony's new Spanish overlords to rebuild it according to more modern tastes.
French culture has had a major and lasting influence on the city’s history since its foundation in 1718: the city plan and lots, the central square dominated by the church, faubourgs (an ancient French term for suburbs), Creole cottages, the old Convent, and the Charity Hospital. The French quarter (Le Vieux carré in french), the oldest neighborhood, is a National Historic Landmark, with its many individual historic buildings. Preserving a strong affinity with France when the French were perfecting high food standards and the concept of the modern restaurant, Louisiana’s cuisine is Old World cooking, modified by local ingredients.
But the slaves of the French colonies also brought their own colorful contribution to the French classics with their use of spices and seasonings. The Acadians — or Cajuns — who came from Canada developed a more rural style of French cuisine, which also influenced Louisana’s cuisine.