But the real story begins back in Cambodia. Longteine was born into an upper-class family there. She learned the basics of Cambodian cooking in her mother's kitchen and, as a teen, taught herself French cooking to please her father. (The nation had been part of French Indochina for more than 100 years, and French cuisine had become a part of the national culture.) At 18, she entered into an arranged marriage. Her husband became a rising star diplomat, and Longteine seemed destined for a life of privilege, devoted to raising their young daughters. Then the brutal Khmer Rouge took power, and she and her family fled Cambodia, along with thousands of other refugees.

Settling in the south of France, with her husband unable to find work and money running out, Longteine sold her jewelry and opened a restaurant to support her family. Eventually, she and her family made it to America. There, Longteine and her daughter Nasda started The Elephant Walk. Today, the popular restaurant has three Boston-area locations. In 2009, they started the Benefit Restaurant Project to give part of their revenue to support nonprofit social organizations. To help keep Cambodia's food traditions alive, Longteine has written The Elephant Walk Cookbook. And she and Nasda teach cooking classes that include traditional Cambodian dishes as well as French and fusion cooking. As we celebrate Mother's Day, this hardworking Character Approved mother and daughter team show us what motherhood and family are all about.

[Images: Jonathan Kannair, The Elephant Walk]

But just like the gumbo, the festival is a rich mix of many flavors--not just in the music being played, but in the food you'll find there. This year it includes spring and egg rolls from Ba Mien Vietnamese Cuisine, Jamaican chicken and Caribbean fish from Palmer's Jamaican Cuisine, fried fish tacos from Taqueria Corona, Cuban sandwiches from Canesco's Markets, and tagine of lamb with basmati rice from Jamila's Café.

Of course, you have to have a little something sweet. The festival more than obliges, with sno-balls, Creole cream cheese cake, beignets from Café du Monde, lemon meringue pie, sweet potato pie, fried plantains, coconut macaroons, crème brulée, and many more...

In a city that takes its food seriously, the eats at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival are definitely Character Approved.

[Images: Zach Smith, Terrance Osborne, Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune, David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune]