Thread: New Orleans group bringing food, music to tornado victims

New Orleans group bringing food, music to tornado victims, volunteers in Joplin, Missouri

Published: Monday, June 06, 2011, 10:30 PM Updated: Tuesday, June 07, 2011, 9:45 AM

By Bruce Nolan, The Times-Picayune

Against the backdrop of a national convention on volunteerism, a New Orleans convoy packed with the ingredients for a South Louisiana food and music festival pushed off Monday for shattered Joplin, Mo., where thousands of beleaguered homeowners are awakening to the full import of rebuilding after the worst tornado in modern American history carved a broad scar across the face of their city.

A convoy of local chefs and musicians load up the trucks and busses with seafood, cooking equipment and volunteers to be dispatched to Joplin, Mo., from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Monday, June 6, 2011, to encourage volunteers doing tornado relief there. The event is headed by "The Taste Buds, Three Chefs, One Mission" made up by Chefs Greg Reggio, Hans Limburg and Gary Darling. New Orleans chefs depart for Joplin, Mo. to cook for 1,000 Tornado Victims gallery (3 photos)

“We know what it’s like to be in a situation where you’ve lost everything. And we know the importance of being able to lift spirits,â€

Wednesday, 08 June 2011 3:07PM

Louisiana caravan heading back from Joplin

Jay Vise Reporting

A caravan of Louisiana chefs and volunteers today headed back from a trip to Joplin, Missouri, calling their road trip mission to deliver Louisiana cuisine to the devastated community a success.

New Orleans-area Chef Greg Reggio, one of the organizers of the caravan, said there was a large turnout in the town which was hit by a massive tornado last month.

"We met some special people who had a strong spirit, who shared their stories, their rebuilding process with us," Reggio said. "In all, we had about 1,200 to 1,400 people show up, and they ate up all that great Louisiana seafood."

The project was organized by Reggio and fellow chefs Hans Limburg and Gary Darling. The three were joined on the trip by dozens of volunteers and singer Amanda Shaw, who entertained the gathered crowd.

"It was very much like a festival, with individual tents with food being prepared right at the tables," according to Reggio. "They were quite happy and appreciative."

To view a photo gallery of the caravan in Joplin, CLICK HERE>>>

Reggio said when the caravan headed back to Louisiana, all the food had been eaten.

"They even ate up the alligator, which was a surprise. I thought we'd be bringing some 'gator back, but they ate every bit of it."

According to Reggio, the destruction caused by the massive tornado is "unbelievable."

"It was a good message for Louisiana to send out, a little bit of thank you, and a little bit of pay it forward."

http://www.wwl.com/Louisiana-caravan-he ... n/10067190