This museum lets you take a peek into the South’s culinary attic

The Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans’ reemerging Central City is reminiscent of a huge attic filled with things that explain a unique cuisine and culinary heritage.

There’s nothing high-tech but plenty to pick up and study, from old-time kitchen gadgets to bottles of Louisiana hot sauce.

“Food is personal and familiar, so we make things accessible,” said Liz Williams, the museum’s founder and director.

SoFAB, as it’s known, opened in 2008, and expanded in September into the onetime Dryades Market at 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

You can read about coffee and chicory, Creole cooking, the once-banned absinthe and po-boy sandwiches. You can check out a post-Hurricane Katrina Mardi Gras food cart whose menu includes Chicken a la FEMA. There’s something from every Southern state.

Behind a protective chain are an antique absinthe bar and a wall of bottles (empty) in a section identified as the Museum of the American Cocktail, which also has an exhibit in the Seven Grand whiskey bar, 515 W. 7th St. in downtown Los Angeles.

On Mondays, you can see a cooking demonstration and eat a lunch ($40) of remoulade salad, jambalaya and Bananas Foster.

The sophisticated Purloo restaurant serves lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays.

A 17,000-volume culinary library also is part of SoFAB.

Neighbors include the New Orleans Jazz Market, the Ashe Cultural Arts Center (theater) and several restaurants, including the popular Cafe Reconcile, a training center for food industry jobs that is open for lunch weekdays.

Info: SoFAB, (504) 267-7490, is open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays. Admission $10, $5 students/military/seniors, free for those younger than 12.

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