Ron L.
Yelp
I had been to New Orleans since 1987 to attend JazzFest until my near death and rebirth in 1999 with Celiac disease about 6-7 times. After I was diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance as a foodie I thought my culinary life was over and one of the many, but not only joys, of going to Nola is the food. I was reluctant to go and then a bit later 20 years ago Katrina hit this great city.
When I did return my reluctance of going due to my food restrictions was born out, but the fact that the people in New Orleans fry everything, including water. Besides jambalaya and some fresh fish, I couldn't eat anything. However, due to a friend who was born in New Orleans, grew up in New Orleans and lives half of the year there with her family involved in the restaurant business, Pat introduced me for a number of chefs and one in particular, Michael Gulotta, who modified dishes or even made me specially dishes that were gluten free.
Every time I went to New Orleans, I tried to go to his two Vietnamese Cajun restaurants, MoPho and Maypop.
Michael Gulotta, chef-owner at Mopho and Maypop was born and raised in New Orleans. Michael began cooking in local restaurants at a young age. After graduating from the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, he joined the newly opened Restaurant August. Gulotta then took leave to train in the Italian Riviera and Germany's Black Forest. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Michael returned home to help rebuild and assist with August's re-opening. He was named chef de cuisine in 2007 and led the award-winning kitchen for six years, while establishing relationships with local farmers and purveyors. He opened his first restaurant, MOPHO, in January of 2014 with his brother, Jeffrey Gulotta, and high-school friend, Jeffrey Bybee. Located in New Orleans' Mid City, MOPHO was a true neighborhood restaurant and a destination for Southeast Asian inspired cuisine utilizing the Louisiana pantry.
In its first year MOPHO was nominated for America's Best New Restaurant by Bon Appétit magazine and named Restaurant of the Year by New Orleans Magazine. In 2016 Michael was named one of Top 30 Chefs to Watch in the nation by Plate Magazine, A New Orleans Rising Star by Starchefs, a Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine, and Chef of the Year by New Orleans Magazine. In 2017, his team opened its second full-service restaurant, Maypop, in the Central Business District of New Orleans. Maypop was named a Top 5 Best New Restaurant by The Times Picayune, A Best New Restaurant by New Orleans Magazine, a New Orleans Top 20 Restaurants by Condé Nast Traveler, and a New Orleans' Top Ten Restaurants for 2019, by Brett Anderson. Michael has also been a semifinalist for The James Beard Awards Best Chef South for the past four years.
Most recently, his team opened a second MOPHO location in the new Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
On my trip to New Orleans this past May, I was saddened to learn that Michael was closing MoPho and Maypop, casualties of the so difficult business of owning a restaurant I know all too well. After JazzFest one evening on MoPho's second to last day, Pat and I went to pay our respects and I got to thank Michael for his kindness showing me there was culinary life after my diagnosis not only at his restaurant but when he catered the main stage at JazzFest, but he also introduced me to more fusion possibilities which I have incorporated in some of the food I make.
On the last day of Maypop, my brother Jeff and I dined at Maypop, Michael's more upscale joint which served delicious food and not to be undone, after both closed on that Sunday in May, I saw the MoPho at the airport right in front of my terminal and gate to fly home and I got the greatest wings on the planet to fly home with: CRISPY CHICKEN WINGS WITH
NUOC MAM CARAMEL. I have no idea what exactly that is except Cajun chicken spices with a Vietnamese caramel sauce that is unparalleled in it's flavor, bite and marriage of cultures that was so good Pat would always ask for more on the side.
I'm sure Michael will get back in the game at some point but I write this with gratitude to Pat for introducing me to this great Chef and to Chef Gulotta for taking the time to show me what I could eat and what modifications he could make to his food for me.