Dream House Lounge and why we eat red food

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Dream House Lounge opened four years ago as a healing space in New Orleans and the first sober bar in New Orleans. It appeared out of the dreams of business owner David Wallace and showcases wellness events attended by the thousands.

The featured beverage at the bar is the Lavender Dream, a take on classic sorrel. Sorrel is a red drink associated with people in the Caribbean, of African ancestry. It is consumed during celebrations and especially during Christmas.

“The color red is sacred in Black and African culture. You’ll see the color red represented through flags and artwork. Specifically, when we see red in food and drinks, it is symbolic of resilience, vitality and the energy passed down. It is something that remains very present in our culture today,” explains Wallace.

Sorrel is part of a long heritage of red.

Beyond sorrel, there are many examples of red food at Black celebrations. Jambalaya, red rice, red red, red velvet cake are good examples of red food. Red drinks are perhaps the most prominent. One of the oldest red drink examples is Bissap, a 400-year-old red drink in some west African countries. One of the most modern takes on red drink was the popularization of Kool Aid in the United States in the 20th Century.

Sometimes, the food or drink doesn’t have to be red at all. A recent nod to red drink tradition at some Juneteenth gatherings is to simply drink out of red colored cups.

Wallace’s sorrel recipe includes dried hibiscus, fresh orange, pineapple, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, ginger and agave.

Wallace explains his recipe, saying “I put it all in a cloth and steep it in a pot. I take out the fresh ingredients and then I sweeten it with agave. I then pour the drink over ice. I always set the first glass aside for my ancestors.”

Wallace’s sorrel isn’t always solely red. The Lavender Dream is a tribute to Wallace’s grandmothers and is a purple version of the traditional sorrel recipe that uses lavender. The Lavender Dream has enjoyed international popularity.

Wallace explains the success of Dream House Lounge, saying “this came to me in a dream, and I believe deeply that the thing that I was doing was what God called me to do, to help the community. The drink was featured in the New York Times and in every United Airline Flight’s Hemisphere magazine for the month of January. I was also featured in Essence Magazine. It has taken a life of its own. It’s all thanks to my grandmothers, Mildred Torrance and Norma Wallace!”

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