June 1, 2007
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2007 Hurricane Season: A Kitchen Post-storm
Metairie, LA
June 1st… So Hurricane Season has started once again.. What does this mean for us folk down south? Every other year, it probably meant nothing. But last year was the first year to follow Hurricane Katrina.. and we were spared, big time.. Just in case you forgot what happened a little less than 2 years ago, let’s take a trip down memory lane..
When I first started my training to become a chef, I started at the Metairie Country Club.. It was a very nice club. We did a la carte, Sunday brunch, weddings, golf tournaments… you name it, we cooked it! I learned a wide range of skills here. I learned how to Sautee, Braise, Bake, Grill, Steam.. made all of the classical sauces.. plated up thousands of orders.. made over a million hors d’œuvres.. and flipped just as many omelettes.. So I guess what I’m trying to say is, this kitchen means a lot to me..
The Expo..
The Front Line
The Back Line..These are not pictures of the Kitchen right after the storm.. this is Present Day.. over a YEAR and a half later. Needless to say, the kitchen smells as bad as it looks.. very depressing. It seems they’re still deciding the fate of the place. Is the rest of the city still like this? No, not at all.. It’s just heartbreaking for me to walk into this place again. I’ve made friends here.. pulled a 26 hour shift for a mother’s day.. got slammed to the point where all you hear is “12 filets, 8 sixes, (5 med, 2 med rare, 1 well), 4 nines (2 rare, 2 med rare), 3 parms, 5 softshells, 3 ducks, 2 prime (both medium), 4 salmons.. and fire the salmons!!)..” This really happened.. lol
The Last Event Sheet still hanging.. (planned for the day before Katrina)
The “Grand Ballroom”Well the day before the Katrina hit, most of the city didn’t take it seriously so neither did I… I went to work as requested.. it was the big Wine Dinner, how could I miss out? lol The roads were pretty empty and when got to the club, nobody was there except for a couple of chefs. They just finished plating a few entrees for an early luncheon that was just canceled. So instead of throwing it away.. we had our last meal in that kitchen together. We wished each other luck.. and parted ways..
People around the world watched on T.V. and just took everything that was said & broadcasted for granted. Well have you ever heard of Sensationalism? That’s exactly what happened!
Current Facts about New Orleans
(From a Non-Reporter, New Orleanian Chef, and Small Business owner)Is the city STILL under water?
NO
Is it safe? Is there still looting going on?
Yes it’s safe and People are no longer looting.
Are there any places to eat?
Judging from my blog, yes
Is New Orleans known for it’s Chocolate? Why is it called Chocolate City?
We have good chocolate here. But our mayor who made the comment, was referring to the city’s lack of African American population after the storm. Calling for them to come back and make this city “Chocolate” once again. Apparently ,whites, asians, and hispanics don’t vote for him.. we don’t factor in.
Is it still all devastated?
umm.. unless you go to the 9th ward or other locations where the levees broke. No… the popular places in the city are all up and running. Yes that means Bourbon Street too!
How’s life there?
Life is good.. I have great friends, a great family, eat well and life in a perfect place. The City is small and cozy. It’s still the ”Big Easy” to many of the people down here. Life never gets too crazy in New Orleans.
I’m thinking about going to College nearby New Orleans.. How are the schools?
It’s really good here.. All of the schools are up and running now. Notable Schools & popular majors: Tulane for business and medicine, Loyola for music and business, Xavier for pharmacy, UNO for architecture and film, LSU business and economics.. Schools are good and college life here has to be as good as anywhere else!
You have the Internet down there???
no.. we’ve managed to tie a network of strings together and on the end of each string, we plugged the cans into our computers.. I’m surprised Xanga works so well on this web browser…Yes, these real questions.. lol. Any other questions? Let me know.. I’ll update this as you ask.. Thanks for reading!
Future Entries:
Mcdonald’s Cheese Burger vs. Dorito’s X-13D
Chef Eats BioMy new Blogring:
Xagat-Rated
Feel free to join! =)
Comments (6)
haha, someone actually asked that internet Q? hahaha, funny. i wonder why the rest of the nation think our city is so incapable of being alive again. but then again, our city is corrupt as ever. hmm… i blame it all on global warning. it makes sense for everything else. haha..
my mom lives in new orleans, and i was in europe when the storm came. like everyone else, we thought nothing of it.. you can imagine my shock when i see images of devastation on the italian news papers and television.. all in italian.. with only NEW ORLEANS the only thing i can understand.
the US embassy in Milan was on a first name basis with me.
but i agree with CestLaVy, the corruption is still permeating.
Hi, yes there is INTERNET.. it is wifi right now.. you can access to net from your laptop or computer there is free service if you want more hours it is like 15 dollar. You can check it out.
So, my question: Any personal sightings of Brangelina yet? j/k It’s almost as bad as the Internet one. Almost.
Those pictures are so sad. They make me want to give you a hug.
-L
the grand ballroom pic is really saddening.