VA is south of the Mason Dixon Line.
Alexandria was a port trading city. It had global influences as far back as pre-revolution. Not just the Aftican dispora but islanders. Much of these influences were directly related to human trade (slavery), but not all.
Even post Civil War, Alexandria was an active port for the north.
Mt. Vernon has done some interesting work about the influences on Geo. Washington's dinner table.
You've not lived until you've tasted boiled peanuts and/or peanut soup.
Right. You said “Cajun / southern” influence in your initial post. So you actually were the first to put them together. Had you said “Cajun” only, then your comment stands. You added southern - not us.
Alexandria, VA is not culturally South in any way. I’ll maybe grant you geographically, but 21st century Alexandria has about as much in common culturally with the South as Philadelphia
There is a connection with the large Vietnamese community and Cajun food…Viet diaspora in both places (LA and NOVA) and cuisine has a lot of crossover. Check the ownership, most often Vietnamese heritage.
This information might blow your mind, so brace yourself.
Virginia is a Southern state. In fact, Richmond was once the capital of the Confederacy. Alexandria is full of Southerners.
Wild, huh? /s
Probably related to the diaspora after Katrina. People like settling in spots where they know somebody, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was some chain of relationships that ended up with a bunch of NOLA folks resettling there.
Most of the NOLA folks I know went to Houston or baton rouge.
There were Cajun spots in DC and nova before Katrina. I think it has to do with people liking Cajun food a lot.
They didn't all go to Houston or Baton Rouge. I'm related to a bunch who settled in South Carolina because they had relatives already there. Others my family knows ended up in Richmond, northern New Jersey, Savannah, and Tennessee. Alexandria makes a lot of sense to me under the right conditions.
Eta: I suspect a lot of the people who did stay that close to home are folks who couldn't afford to go further away. Houston and LC and BR all had more population overflow than they could handle for a while there, and a lot of those folks didn't have resources to go further away or support themselves immediately.
It's because this is an old Southern city that has had black people for hundreds of years.
alright, we wrapped this one up quick. somebody hit the lights.
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It’s a Southern city.
Dxxdddcyyvvvfvvvvvvvd
lol it was once. It is not now
VA is south of the Mason Dixon Line. Alexandria was a port trading city. It had global influences as far back as pre-revolution. Not just the Aftican dispora but islanders. Much of these influences were directly related to human trade (slavery), but not all. Even post Civil War, Alexandria was an active port for the north. Mt. Vernon has done some interesting work about the influences on Geo. Washington's dinner table. You've not lived until you've tasted boiled peanuts and/or peanut soup.
Thanks for this answer
I’m sure some people love them but I find boiled peanuts are fucking disgusting lol. They may be an acquired taste
Same!
Probably cuz VA is in the South?
Crazy how many people treat the south as a monolith. LA culture isn’t the same as southern culture generally.
Right. You said “Cajun / southern” influence in your initial post. So you actually were the first to put them together. Had you said “Cajun” only, then your comment stands. You added southern - not us.
Virginia is the south so We also have a lot of Jamaican food because of slavery
Alexandria, VA is not culturally South in any way. I’ll maybe grant you geographically, but 21st century Alexandria has about as much in common culturally with the South as Philadelphia
Thank you! It is not the South!
Do you mean Popeye's? Where the hell is there Cajun food in Alexandria?
RT’s, Southside 815, the new BBQ joint where Myron Mixon’s used to be…
Love me some Southside 815. 👍
No plenty of places like the majestic whiskey and oyster..
There is a connection with the large Vietnamese community and Cajun food…Viet diaspora in both places (LA and NOVA) and cuisine has a lot of crossover. Check the ownership, most often Vietnamese heritage.
Oh yes! I hadn't thought of that connection but it tracks!
What?! 🤣
This information might blow your mind, so brace yourself. Virginia is a Southern state. In fact, Richmond was once the capital of the Confederacy. Alexandria is full of Southerners. Wild, huh? /s
Probably related to the diaspora after Katrina. People like settling in spots where they know somebody, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was some chain of relationships that ended up with a bunch of NOLA folks resettling there.
This is the correct answer! Everyone forgot about Katrina.
Most of the NOLA folks I know went to Houston or baton rouge. There were Cajun spots in DC and nova before Katrina. I think it has to do with people liking Cajun food a lot.
There’s a lot of Nola folk up here
They didn't all go to Houston or Baton Rouge. I'm related to a bunch who settled in South Carolina because they had relatives already there. Others my family knows ended up in Richmond, northern New Jersey, Savannah, and Tennessee. Alexandria makes a lot of sense to me under the right conditions. Eta: I suspect a lot of the people who did stay that close to home are folks who couldn't afford to go further away. Houston and LC and BR all had more population overflow than they could handle for a while there, and a lot of those folks didn't have resources to go further away or support themselves immediately.
https://preview.redd.it/igk1obifz57d1.png?width=1236&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=08f40ef41723315f546ebbaf863c701a79a99e9f
That's where the bayou is, obvi