N.0. Among Top 10 "Tastiest Towns in the South"
Voting Opens December 23 – Winner of Southern
Living Poll to be Announced in April

"There's no taste like home" and readers of Southern Living magazine will have a chance to vote for New Orleans as the "Tastiest Town in the South" between December 23, 2011 and January 31, 2012. The Crescent City has already made the Top Ten in the reader poll; now it's up to the voters to make the final selection. With an internationally renowned reputation for exquisite food and a wide selection of fine restaurants serving it, New Orleans has an excellent chance of taking the crown.

Locals as well as visitors are eligible to vote in the Southern Living poll for "Tastiest City in the South." The Birmingham, Alabama-based magazine with wide circulation throughout the South, opened up the poll with their January issue, which hit newsstands and mailboxes after December 23. The contest winner will be announced in SL's April issue which comes out on March 23.

Famed oyster bars, Gulf seafood, muffulettas, po'boys, "dangerous cocktails" and many more culinary delicacies have assured New Orleans of its place in the contest. Southern Living editors and Test Kitchen Professionals gathered for a summit in Birmingham recently and chose New Orleans and nine other Southern cities. Our competition includes Baltimore, Birmingham, Charleston (SC), Charlottesville (VA), Decatur (GA), Houston, Lafayette (LA), Louisville and Raleigh.

Southern Living editors chose the Top 10 "Tastiest Towns in the South" based on the following criteria:

• Food as a cultural identity: The unique food or ethnicity that defines a particular Southern region.
• Growth of a culinary-minded community: The influence that the culinary industry has on the local community and tourism.
• Diverse cuisine at a variety of price points: Accessibility to hearty, flavorful meals at any budget.
• Local, sustainable food practices: The focus on sourcing products from local purveyors to geographically define where each meal comes from.
• Hot chefs on the rise: The influence of the area's culinary talent in the media and pop culture.
• Abundance of buzz-worthy food events: The number of festivals in the area that celebrate all things food and drink.

Those who wish to vote for New Orleans can do so by visiting www.southernliving.com/tasty  between December 23 and January 31. One vote per day is counted toward the final tally.

Southern Living, published by the Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, reaches 15 million readers each month. The brand offers today's busy Southerners achievable ideas for cultivating their own Southern style. Each month in the magazine and on www.southernliving.com, readers find ideas for cooking, gardening, gracious entertaining, decorating, regional travel and locally made products. Southern Living is now available on all tablets. Visit www.southernliving.com/allaccess for more details.