NEW YORK – The James Beard Foundation announced today the five recipients of its 2018 America's Classics award, including Dong Phuong Bakery in New Orleans East.
Dong Phuong Bakery, located at 14207 Chef Menteur Highway, was honored for its rich history and 35 years in the New Orleans community.
The Vietnamese community in New Orleans dates to the end of the Vietnam War, when refugees moved to Louisiana, where they relished a climate reminiscent of their home. De Tran and Huong Tran settled in New Orleans East. In 1982, they opened Dong Phuong, one of the area’s first Vietnamese bakeries. They became known for their banh mi, sandwiches variously stuffed with pâté, Chinese sausage, and barbecue chicken, slicked with aioli and topped with pickled vegetables and fresh herbs.
Now run by Huong Tran and daughter, Linh Tran Garza, Dong Phuong exemplifies how thoroughly the Vietnamese community has become a vital part of the local culinary landscape. The bakery now supplies dozens of cafes and shops with thin, crackling-crust bread with a pillowy interior, ideal for building the city’s iconic po-boy sandwiches.
To qualify for the America's Classics award, establishments must have been in existence at least ten years and be locally owned. The honorees are selected each year by the James Beard Foundation's Restaurant & Chef Awards committee, a group composed of restaurant critics, writers, editors and other experts. The selection process begins each fall with a public call for entries, allowing anyone the opportunity to suggest candidates for the awards.
The America's Classics award, first introduced in 1998, is given to restaurants that have timeless appeal and are cherished for quality food that reflects the character of their community. This year's winners will be celebrated at the annual James Beard Foundation Awards Gala on Monday, May 7 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Tabasco sauce is the presenting sponsor for the America’s Classics Award this year, celebrating its 150th anniversary.
