04/07/2026
GoFundMe: for the launching of NOLA Basil Cajun–Vietnamese Street Food in the 757
After 40+ years of cooking, I’m finally building something of my own restaurant wise.
NOLA Basil — where Cajun soul meets Vietnamese freshness — is a Cajun–Vietnamese street food pop-up coming to the 757, built on bold flavor, fresh herbs, and deeply satisfying comfort food inspired by two rich culinary traditions.
This isn’t a trend or a sudden idea.
It’s something I’ve been developing over decades of home cooking—learning how flavor is built through aromatics, herbs, slow layering, and balance.
Now I’m ready to share it with the community.
Why I’m doing this:
Cooking has been a constant in my life for over four decades.
It’s how I create, how I connect, and how I express care through food.
Over time, my style naturally evolved into a fusion of Cajun comfort cooking and Vietnamese street food traditions—two cuisines that share a love for bold seasoning, fresh herbs, and unforgettable depth of flavor.
NOLA Basil is the result of that evolution.
What is NOLA Basil?
NOLA Basil is a Cajun–Vietnamese street food pop-up, launching in the 757 with the goal of growing into a food truck or mobile kitchen.
The food is:
bold, herb-forward, and layered with flavor
inspired by Cajun and Vietnamese street food traditions
built around vegetables, aromatics, and sauces as the foundation
flexible with proteins (chicken, shrimp, beef and tofu).
Designed to be comforting, accessible, and memorable
Vegetables, herbs, pickles, and broths are not sides here—they are the structure of the food itself.
The food
Some of the signature dishes I’ve been developing include:
Dry Pho Jambalaya — Cajun rice structure infused with Vietnamese pho aromatics, herbs, and spice
Bánh Mì–Muffaletta — pickled vegetables, herb spreads, and bold savory layers between Vietnamese and Cajun sandwich traditions
NOLA BBQ Shrimp over Vietnamese Fried Rice — a signature Cajun-Vietnamese dish featuring garlic butter BBQ shrimp, cracked pepper, herbs, and rich sauce served over crispy, aromatic fried rice
Mushroom Pho Gravy + Dirty Rice with tofu or other protein options
Cajun shrimp, chicken
Link to the fundraiser in bio.
