New Orleans chef Susan Spicer (Bayona, Herbsaint, Cobalt) is teaming up with my friends Staci Strauss and Craig McCord from FoodGoods on a worthwhile fund-raiser. Buy this black & green t-shirt ($35); the proceeds go directly to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund set up through the hospitality industry's Share our Strength organization.
11/14/05 UPDATE: Bayona is Spicer's own restaurant. See reader comments for her association with the other spots.
As for the "Where's Emeril?" flap alluded to by reader Frolic in the comments, it's about this article in the Times-Picayune.
Great idea, guys. Read the completepress release or continue below for additional information.
New York (PRWEB) FoodGoods, a company that creates goods for food lovers, today announced that it will donate all proceeds from the sale of its “may the spice be with you” shirt to the Share our Strength Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. Designed specially by FoodGoods and New Orleans chef Susan Spicer of Bayona Restaurant, the tee celebrates Chef Spicer's eclectic global cuisine to bring hunger relief to those are in need after Hurricane Katrina.
"With so many friends and family in Louisiana and Texas, our hearts
were breaking for the communities hit by the hurricane" said FoodGoods
designer Staci Strauss. "We were thrilled to work with Susan to help
provide for those who are in need. Share our Strength's dedication to
ending hunger was a natural fit; we hope our efforts offer some comfort
to the Katrina victims,"she added.
The black American Apparel shirt is printed with green lettering and
comes in unisex S,M, L,XL, 2XL and 3 XL. The shirt retails for $35.00,
and is available online at www.foodgoods.com or by calling (917) 327-9394.
About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength is a national nonprofit that inspires and organizes
individuals and businesses to share their strengths in innovative ways
to help end hunger. Their Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund is directed to
local organizations assisting victims in the affected areas. For more
information, check out www.strength.org/act/katrina.
About FoodGoods
FoodGoodsTM is a line of culinarily-inspired soft goods that strives
to promote healthy eating and living while heralding the delectable
words associated with food and wine. The company was founded by Staci
Strauss and Craig McCord in 2004, and is based in Lower Manhattan. The
line of t-shirts, aprons and tote bags, as well as information on
FoodGoods' philanthropic partnerships, can be found online at www.foodgoods.com.
Just a small correction to your post. Spicer no longer has a relationship with Cobalt. She was initially a consultant. That contract ended a while back. After drifting for some time, the restaurant was reinvigorated just before Katrina hit with the arrival of Chef David English.
Spicer no longer runs the kitchen at Herbsaint. It has been in the hands of Donald Link for quite some time. My understanding is that she still has an interest in the place. I'd heard talk that she might again become involved in the kitchen as Link opened his new place called Cochon.
I don't want to diminish Spicer, who I think is a great chef. On the other hand, Link is equally talented and doesn't get the credit he deserves outside of New Orleans due to Spicer's long shadow.
I should also note that Herbsaint was one of the first higher end places open after Katrina. Link also vows to open his new place soon.
Thanks for the update! Much appreciated. Was relying on article in StarChefs and on Craig's press release.
Much being made of Emeril's conspicuous absence from the New Orleans restoratoin effort, wouldn't you say?
No problem.
I don't know what to think of the Emeril thing. Brett Anderson, the Picayune's restaurant critic, is a friend (I was the food writer for the New Orleans atl-weekly pre-Katrina). I tend to trust his judgment.
Then again, a scathing article and a scathing editorial is pretty harsh. There is probably more to the story (I have my hunches), but I don't know that. Then again, Brett and the entire Picayune staff never left town. Maybe, after days in the muck, they just got fed up with the rich guy blabbering about how much he wanted to get back to New Orleans.