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The Night It Almost Rained in Georgia

One of our clients asked us to plan an event in Atlanta for 700 guests in an outdoor setting that fe... more.
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NEW ORLEANS CHEFS RALLY FOR FISHERMEN AND FAMILIES OF GRAND ISLE, LA

NEW ORLEANS CHEFS RALLY FOR FISHERMEN AND FAMILIES OF GRAND ISLE, LA

After many weeks of watching the news over and over again about the oil spill and feeling helpless and anxious just as she did during those days after Katrina, Kara Pigeon thought there has to be a way she could use her talents to help the people of the Gulf Coast. One email to Executive Chef Matt Murphy of The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans and an event was born. "Chefs for Fishermen and Families" took place on Saturday, June 19th at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle, Louisiana.

Roughly one year ago (June 14th), forty-five of New Orleans top chefs rallied on behalf of Executive Chef Matt Murphy of The Ritz-Carlton and his family to create the "Chefs for Chef Matt Murphy" fundraising benefit as he was stricken with a flesh eating bacterial infection., another event that Pigeon organized. Now, completely recovered and wanting to show his gratitude for the outpouring of support he received, Murphy is organizing the chefs, restaurateurs and local companies that came to his aid while he was in a coma to create the "Chefs for Fishermen and Families" event.

The Bridge Side Marina, where the Grand Isle fishing rodeos take place, is owned by Buggie Vegas. In a recent Washington Post article, Vegas said that "Everybody feels alone," he said of the town's residents. "We were used to working together every day, and then it just stopped."

Kara organized the event along with Chef Matt Murphy and Wendy Waren of the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) to bring the community together, to show support and to give them a day of rest. Entertainer Mark Adam Miller (www.markadammiller.net) donated his time to provide a musical backdrop for the day. At a Congressional panel on June 10th, Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle said "I want to continue to hold the American flag...I'm going to continue to feed my people. I just need your help. It's like a war and I'm on the front line."

The "Chefs for Fishermen and Families" event is to be the first of many to help Grand Isle fishermen, oyster harvesters and shrimpers. Over 15 New Orleans fine dining restaurants participated providing fabulous food with beverages being donated by Pepsi, Community coffee, iced tea and water. Over 300 Grand Isle residents stopped in to get a bite to eat, relax, dance to some music and forget about their troubles for a little while.