The root of the word “restaurant” is in fact the French verb restaurer ​, to restore. And New Orleans restaurateurs , the proprietors, were seen as key figures in restoring the life and spirit of the city. But in those first months after the flood, nobody was sure how or even if the city's most famous restaurants were going to reopen. We hear tape from an October 2005 meeting of New Orleans chefs — including John Besh , Susan Spicer and Leah Chase — about how to get the city's restaurant industry back on track. And we talk to present-day John Besh about how Katrina changed the way he does business. A consultant from Martin Wine Cellar talks about what it's like to deal with thousands of cases of ruined wine after a natural disaster. And we hop on the streetcar for a late night ride with New Orleans' service industry workers. Click here to subscribe in iTunes. WWNO's Listening Post project sent out a text asking New Orleanians about their experiences with food right after Katrina. Here