Cottage Blog......

Served 20,000 people in Houma... Almost

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 09:22:51 -0500

I got a phone call on Saturday afternoon and the guy from Home Land Security asked me if I could prepare 20,000 meals and deliver it and serve it to Houma by 6 or 7 that night. ( it was 2pm when they called).

I told him I would call him back. After I regained consciousness I called a friend Chef Pierre Hilzim of Kajun Kettle and with his resources we were able to pack enough food for 20,000 people, all the equipment to cook it fresh in the field, all the paper supplies and staff in three big flat bed trucks and get it to Houma in time to serve the hungry masses.

However, when we got their no one new we were coming. We were repositioned several times and about 7pm we were told their was a 8pm curfew. So there was no way we could get ready and cook even if they wanted us to.

So we packed up and headed back to New Orleans with all our stuff.

If was an experience and a good run through on how to serve large crowds in a hurry.

If you know of anyone else who needs a lot or a little food please give them our name an number 504-343-5706

Thanks, John

Hope everyone is Home & Safe...

Fri, 5 Sep 2008 12:01:40 -0500

It looks like most people are back. I hope your homes and business are ok and you all have electricity or will soon.

We are open for business... if any staff read this please report in.

I have a lot of frozen food that that thawed but is still good and I need to get rid of. If anybody needs anything just let me know. John

The Day After

Tue, 2 Sep 2008 11:57:41 -0500

Above is the gas station on Metairie Rd between Labarre and Causeway. That’s the worst damage I saw in old Metairie. I didn’t see any big trees down, just lots of limbs and leaves. There isn’t any power as of noon today in Old Metairie that I could see.

I got everything working at the Catering Kitchen. If anyone needs anything I can take orders. Call me at 504-258-7002. or go to www.mycottagecatering.com If anyone in the area needs a meal (free) because they can’t cook or all their food is bad just let me know .

I heard that Level 1 and 2 citizens ( first responders and contractors) can enter at noon today and there will be an announcement at 5pm today for the rest of us.

Replies...

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 17:33:55 -0500

Hey Chris, Donna, Ashok, & Cherie,....
The family is in Memphis, I just got back internet and cable so I’m ok. Still no phone service. In general there is minor wind damage. The rain was not bad at all the streets never got standing water and the canals were not even close to being full. The wind later in the morning around 11 or noon was the worst and did cause some damage as shown on the blog. Look forward to seeing everyone soon. I feel like Will smith from “I Am Legend” Just me and my dog. except there aren’t any flesh eating mutant humans hanging around so far.

If anyone wants to chat or email you can reach me at jcaluda@mac.com

Took a Ride

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 15:08:14 -0500

The winds had died down so I wanted to check out the warehouse kitchen. The picture above was from the Scandinavian furniture store at the corner of Clearview and Airline ( I think )

Anyway, the warehouse did lose power and I tried to get the freezer and cooler powered up with the generator. The generator was working fine but although the freezers compressor would come on the freezers fans wouldn’t. I think the defrost timer box shorted out and I couldn’t figure out how to jump it out. The cooler compressor kept making the generator breaker blow. So I disconnected the generator and turned off all breakers except for the ones for the cooler and freezer so if the power comes back on they may work... but I doubt it. It looks like I will be cleaning some coolers agin and doing some restocking when we get back.

If Ralph reads this please go to the warehouse and see if you can get the freezer working. If anyone else reads this please call Ralph at 504-994-3467, my service is still out.

This is the only two trees I saw down in the neighborhood. The big tree to the right is on Averon

Now I’m Board

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:00:02 -0500

Just lost at&t phone service and cable, and internet service. So I can’t post this right now.

My house is the only one that seems to have suffered any damage. Thats my house above.

Trip to the Lake

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 10:43:23 -0500

I took a walk to the lake today. It was really windy about 50 to 60 mph my guess. The picture in the top right corner shows water in the foreground which usually isn’t there. I’m standing on the levee so the water isn’t close to the levee but it is really rough and choppy. the pictures don’t really show how bad.

I’m looking at video from the Industrial Canal which look a little dangerous. The walls are being over topped with a lapping type action of the waves not a flow of water, but if it rises much more it would be flowing over the wall.

Anyway, I’m having a nice day just hanging out.

See ya, jc

Gustav Makes landfall

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 07:02:03 -0500

Well I woke up about 6:30A.M. today and the weather had deteriorated to much for me to make it to the warehouse so I will weather the storm here at home.

It’s not that bad the eye is about 80 miles south of my location and It should pass me by around noon.
I still have power and just ate a nice breakfast while I still have electricity.

Molly had to go do here business in the storm. I though she was going to get blown into the pool.

The trees are bending, branches are breaking, I saw some boat awnings ripped off, the rain is hard but it’s nothing like a hurricane.

I don’t have a video camera to record the sound. It’s pretty awesome even at this level and the pictures don’t really show how hard the wind is blowing.

Dusk....

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:00:13 -0500

After much internal conflict I have decided to stay. The storm doesn’t look that bad and it should miss New Orleans East Bank. It could still be devastating for the west bank depending on the actual land fall and tidal surge.

Part of me wants to ride out the storm but I also miss my family and they are doing everything to make me feel guilty about staying. I don’t look forward to being trapped by flooded streets and without electricity but I don’t think that will last to long.

I plan on sleeping in comfort tonight at home and getting up early and heading to the Warehouse kitchen with my lab Molly. I have more supplies and better shelter there.

I took a drive at 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. to check on my Mom’s cats and get more water from the warehouse. On my way back I was struck by how erie and deserted the streets were. Driving back home I herd on the radio of a tornado warning in Jefferson. At the same time I noticed coming out of the north east sky was the darkest clouds I have ever seen. I even pulled over to make sure they weren’t turning into a tornado because I could see a large downward draft due North of my location. It seemed to dissipate and move on so I continued on home. I wanted to go to the lake front ( I live about 3 blocks from the levee) to check out the surf but it started pouring so I went back home.

Well thats the report so far. Thanks for the emails of support from everyone. See ya

Hurricane Gustav ...

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:09:37 -0500

I am sitting at my kitchen table getting ready to go back the the warehouse kitchen to set up the generator. The storm appears to be weakening even though it just passed over the warmest waters in the gulf. As it moves into cooler waters I am hopping it will be down graded to a Cat2 storm. If that happens I will ride it out for sure at the warehouse. If it looks like a Cat 3 or higher I will probably start leaving with Molly around 3 or 4 pm.
I don't know when and if I will be able to up date this page. I am going to try and change it to another web server that I can update through my phone but I don't know if I will get that done in time.
My phone number is 504-258-7002 If you can't reach me call my sister at 860-519-1760 and she will try and relay a message to me.
If I stay through the storm I will have the ability to cook for large groups if needed during the recovery so please contact me if anyone knows of any food service opportunities that might show up.
See ya