One factor is people moving to south Louisiana and New Orleans for jobs, becoming accustomed to the food, and bringing new food traditions back upon their return home. Loulan Pitre of Cut Off inspects his onion crop. Cultural maintenance can be illustrated by food traditions in many cultural groups whether they descend from the colonial settlement, were part of the later waves of immigration, or recently arrived, especially in cultural groups that are not part of the dominant cultural group in a region. Food reminds us of home and family and becomes central to special occasions and rituals. As a result, food traditions can be the most resistant to change.
Examples abound throughout Louisiana.
The German enclave of Roberts Cove in Acadia Parish still makes sauerkraut. Hungarians have been in Tangipahoa Parish for about 100 years and take special pride in their Hungarian sausage. Filipinos celebrate special occasions with the noodle dish pansit . Croatians in Plaquemines Parish keep goats just so they can make goat milk cheese. The Irish in New Orleans celebrate St. Patrick's Day by parading and throwing to the crowd the ingredients of potato stew.