After Hurricane Katrina destroyed their homes, 19 of Michelle and Kyle Davis's relatives fled New Orleans and joined them in Chester, Pa. None of them thought to bring a jug of water from the Mississippi River; the last thing they wanted to see was more water. But now that the extended family has opened a restaurant called De' Essence of New Orleans in Chester, that Mississippi water would come in handy.
According to Michelle Davis, president of the 19-seat Cajun eatery, water is a secret ingredient of authentic New Orleans gumbo. “It used to be when you traveled you took Mississippi water with you to start the gumbo,” the 44-year-old former secretary explains. “We need the water, but what the heck, we can make do.”