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How about Seattle which does fresh, organic and seafood spectacularly. it also has a good asian food scene. Or it's east coast cousin, Providence which while weak in the asian market is stronger in the european/latin foods.
Seattle does? I prefer Portland, OR over Seattle for food.
New Orleans actually has a pretty good vietnamese selection (even a vietnamese neighborhood), central-american, carribean, fine dining, Italian, some other european, and then of course seafood, Cajun, Creole, and Southern/soul food. More than most cities in the country. Also Cajun did not originate in the city but actually in Acadiana (where the actual Cajuns live) and it is located a good distance from the city. New Orleans actually orginated Creole food and Houston is not even close in terms of quality or quantity of Creole food. New Orleans is just like most cities with regards to other types of foods (probably beats out a good amount of cities in some additional cuisines). The city is just lucky enough to then add a unique regional cuisine on top of that and a deep love of food.
Also did you even see the dishes Deezus mentioned. Most of those are not even Cajun food and actually are several different types of foods that for the most part can not be found outside of the region.
I saw his list. I keep mixing up Creole and Cajun food. I know I heard this lecture before I'm more surprised by your comment about NOLA having great selection outside southern/cajun/creole. That wasn't my experience. I never saw a large Vietnamese community but then again I never crisscrossed the city. I did locate a mini/budding mexican town. Even a raggaeton/mexican bar. But the food around it isn't that good.
But Houston, due to a lot of transplants, has much of the NOLA food scene. Maybe I'm a amateur at it, but it tasted fairly similar to me
I saw his list. I keep mixing up Creole and Cajun food. I know I heard this lecture before I'm more surprised by your comment about NOLA having great selection outside southern/cajun/creole. That wasn't my experience. I never saw a large Vietnamese community but then again I never crisscrossed the city. I did locate a mini/budding mexican town. Even a raggaeton/mexican bar. But the food around it isn't that good.
But Houston, due to a lot of transplants, has much of the NOLA food scene. Maybe I'm a amateur at it, but it tasted fairly similar to me
There is a large Vietnamese neighborhood complete with large gardens growing produce and a shopping corridor with signs in vietnamese. But really if you never crisscrossed the city then how can you be fully aware of the food selections of the city? The problem might be that some of the best restuarants for certain cuisines is either located in the suburbs or are in less desirable areas. Also the majority of the central-americans, vietnamese, and some other groups live in the suburbs. But really Houston can still not touch New Orleans for its home-grown cuisine. I lived in Houston and most Houstonians that come to New Orleans come for the food among many other things.
All have world-class restaurants, fabulous hole-in-the-wall eateries, as well as numerous, excellent ethnic restaurants. The variety of fantastic food seems endless in these cities.
I think Seattle and Philadelphia would have to be tied for the number 5 spot.
IDK if L.A. really belongs in the top 5 food cities however.
My list would go
1. NYC
2. San Francisco
3. Chicago
4. New Orleans/ Savannah
5. Seattle/ Philadelphia
Then probably
6. Los Angeles
7. Portland
8. Boston/ D.C.
9. Charleston
10. San Antonio/ Houston/ Atlanta/ Austin
Solid list. I would probably swap Chicago and SF. Either way, they are close enough. I might also put Phily just above Seattle. But again. Both are hard to beat.
I would also like to see Memphis on some of these list. I always feel it never gets enough love. =) It certainly isn't top 5 or anything. Not close to those you have up there. But a good town for eating.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BVitamin
Seattle does? I prefer Portland, OR over Seattle for food.
Providence, no.
And L.A. definitely belongs on the list.
Providence YES. It's got a fabulous Little Italy (Federal Hill) and one that still feels like an old school neighborhood where Italians actually still live there. Also very strong on Portuguese, Brazilian, & Seafood. Providence is also home to the original and prestigious Johnson & Wales University for Culinary Arts. While perhaps not in the calibur of the top 5, don't be too quick to dismiss it either. It's a great foodie town.
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I'm more surprised by your comment about NOLA having great selection outside southern/cajun/creole. That wasn't my experience. I never saw a large Vietnamese community but then again I never crisscrossed the city. I did locate a mini/budding mexican town. Even a raggaeton/mexican bar. But the food around it isn't that good. 
