More Good News From New Orleans

We're glad to report that bartender Bobby Oakes and his family made it out of New Orleans and are now on dry ground in Chapel Hill, NC. Bobby has long tended bar at the famed Arnaud's. Read his take on bartending in the Big Easy here.

If you happen to know the status of any of our other friends from the Bartenders of New Orleans oral history project, please get in touch! Email Amy at acevans@olemiss.edu.

NOLA MEMBER STATUS

The SFA has heard from the following people, all of whom are safe: Lolis Eric Elie, Brooks Hamaker, Sara Roahen, Sara O'Kelley, Brett Anderson, Pableaux Johnson, the Eversmeyer family, Leah Chase , Willie Mae Seaton, John Besh, Randy Fertel, Jessica Harris, Julia Reed, Greg and Mary Sonnier, Marcy Jimenez, Matt Konigsmark, Peter Patout, Scott Simmons, Susan Spicer, Jason McCullar, Ken Smith, Frank Brigtsen, Chuck Subra, the Uglesich family, Austin Leslie, Jacques Leonardi, Adolfo Garcia, Allison Vines-Rushing, Slade Rushing, Dominique Macquet and family, Marcelle Bienvenu, Gene Bourg, Liz Williams; Dickie Brennan, Steve Pettus, Lauren Brennan Brower and their families; Kevin Roberts, Poppy Z. Brite, Chris DeBarr, Pete and Janis Vasquez, Poppy Tooker, Lorin Gaudin. Email has proven to be the best way to be in touch.

For the best coverage of what's happening, turn to www.nola.com.

For Alison Cook's take on New Orleans culinary culture, try http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/features/3335719
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JOB BANK NOW ONLINE

The SFA has partnered with CIRA (the Council of Independent Restaurants) and the James Beard Foundation to build a job bank for displaced restaurant workers.

Approximately 40 SFA members have volunteered to phone Beard Foundation member restaurants. They are asking that the restaurant offer a minimum of one job to displaced workers. Preferably two or more. They are explaining that each offer must come with a promise of temporary housing and that the employee will likely need help with relocation funds, too.

Job offers will be posted at http://www.cirajobs.com/. Anyone may view jobs online. If you would like to post a job offer to the site, sign in at top right of the http://www.cirajobs.com/ page with user ID: beardjobs and password: post5@beard.

Crescent City Farmers Market Back Online

The Crescent City Farmers Market has set up a new site, http://ccfm.standardemail.com, for all community members, vendors, shoppers and staff to hear news, share their whereabouts and organize relief funds for those farmers and fishers who need our assistance.

Culinary Opportunities Available Temporarily

SFA has had a few offers from businesses who are interested in hosting special programs or culinary demonstrations on a temporary basis. Those that we know about are listed below. Permanent jobs are at www.cirajobs.com

1) Austin

Chuy's -- Comida Deluxe, a restaurant company based in Austin, Texas, is interested in hosting a fundraiser for the restaurant community in New Orleans. The idea is to have chefs from famous New Orleans restaurants come to Austin on a temporary basis (maybe one each week) to do cooking demonstrations and also make their signature dishes over the course of the week. Proceeds from the demonstrations, signature dishes and bands would go to benefit hurricane victims in the New Orleans area, specifically those in the restaurant industry. If you are interested in participating in this effort, please contact Joe Kingsbury at jkingsbery@chuys.com.

2) Hattiesburg

The Kitchen Table, in Hattiesburg, is willing to work with displaced chefs who might wish to run a culinary program in the store while they wait for things to get up and running along the coast again. If you're interested in this opportunity, e-mail thekitchentable@bellsouth.net for more info.

3) Tampa

The Lincoln Heights Bistro in Safety Harbor (near Tampa) is hosting a series of events called "Cookin' Fer N'awlins" They are sponsoring chefs, from those areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, on a temporary basis. They will feature a different chef 2 days each week, and will also try to provide leads on permanent employment in the area. The series begins on Sunday, September 25 and features Chef Richard Bond of The Mardi Gras School of Cooking and Catering in New Orleans. If you are interested in cooking, or attending, please contact Lincoln Heights Bistro at (727) 726-4210 or lhbistro@aol.com.

Bar and Owner Survive Katrina!

Good news! In Thursday's Los Angeles Times, an article by Scott Gold on the toxic water situation in New Orleans included a short interview with O'Neil Broyard, owner of the Saturn Bar, who rode out Katrina to tend to his place and all of the treasures within. We hope his pets are okay, too. Click here to access the article (registration required).

O'Neil was one of the folks profiled in our Bartenders of New Orleans Oral History Project, which was completed in March.

If anyone happens to have information relating to the whereabouts of any of our other bartender friends, please let us know. Contact Amy Evans at acevans@olemiss.edu