“Three Chefs, One Mission” Jumps to Joplin to Cook for 1,000 Tornado Victims

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Emily Schmidt
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“Three Chefs, One Mission” Jumps to Joplin to Cook for 1,000 Tornado Victims

New Orleans, LA (June 6, 2011) – After a successful trip in Tuscaloosa fed hundreds of tornado victims on May 11, The Taste Buds, founders of Zea Rotisserie & Grill and Semolina, are off on another mission to feed the people in Joplin, Missouri after recent tornadoes took the lives of more than 125 people and destroyed 37 percent of the city. The caravan will set up a cooking site in Landreth Park and will serve more than 1,000 hot meals featuring Louisiana seafood from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7.

This mission is part of The Taste Buds campaign, “Three Chefs, One Mission,” in partnership with Calco Travel, Inc., Ernst Café, Hotard Coaches, Inc., the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, Pelican Events and State Machinery. Additional partners include Arnaud’s Restaurant, the City of New Orleans, Crescent Crown Distributing, Doran Seafood Company, Harlan’s LA Fish & Seafood, Kajun Kettle Foods, Louisiana Fresh Produce, New Orleans Fish House, Semolina, Sysco Food Service of New Orleans, The Sound Source, Waguespack Oil Company, Inc., Zatarain’s, Zea Rotisserie & Grill and numerous volunteers.

The caravan will leave New Orleans on June 6 following a 2:00 p.m. press conference with Mayor Mitch Landrieu at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center announcing the mission and its’ participants as ambassadors for the spirit of the City’s NOLA Pay It Forward Initiative. The caravan includes refrigerated trucks, trailers, cooking equipment, tents, generators, busses and a 24-foot music stage.

“The residents in New Orleans know first-hand how hard it is to start rebuilding a city and individual lives after experiencing a devastating catastrophe like a natural disaster,” said Greg Reggio, one of the three Taste Buds. “Our mission in Joplin is simple. Our team of chefs, business leaders and volunteers are bringing Louisiana seafood, music and love to help lift the spirits of the people in the Joplin community for at least a few hours. Our hope is that a little bit of Southern hospitality will go a long way.”

For entertainment, Pelican Events has made special arrangements to fly in Louisiana’s own, Amanda Shaw. Shaw, a 20-year-old New Orleans fiddler with a powerful southern sound, will delight people with her Louisiana infused-mainstream music while Joplin residents and first responders enjoy the meals.

Anyone interested in supporting the mission to Joplin can make a donation to the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation. People can drop off checks made out to the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation/Joplin at any of the 10 locations for Zea Rotisserie & Grill or mail them directly to the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation at 3232 North Arnoult Road, Metairie, Louisiana 70002. Anyone interested in making a donation directly to the city of Joplin, please visit http://www.cfozarks.org/donate/.

“Three Chefs, One Mission” is a new project from the Taste Buds that seeks to help communities and people in need after facing devastating situations. The Taste Buds will lead a caravan of volunteers from New Orleans to sites around the country to serve hot meals when the need presents itself.

To speak with one of the Taste Buds about “Three Chefs, One Mission” and their relief efforts in Joplin, please contact Greg Reggio at (504) 931-4734. To view pictures from the “Three Chefs, One Mission” trips, please visit Zea Rotisserie & Grill’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ZeaRestaurants.

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