The Latest News from Magic Seasoning Blends & K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen
September 30, 2005, 4:00pm CST
Dear Friends of Magic Seasoning Blends and K- Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen -
America witnessed first-hand the ravages of mother nature as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita tore through the southern part of the country. Communities were battered and destroyed or swept away with waves that seemed to touch the stars. We still have a large suburban section of New Orleans partially under water and simply praying for the water to go away. Once it does dissipate, houses, businesses, parks, hospitals, schools, etc. will have to either rebuild or be bull-dozed over.
The devastation you see in the media is real. However, it is varied throughout the affected areas. Most of the French Quarter and the Business District suffered wind and rain damage, but did not have the heavy flooding in comparison to East New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish or the Lakefront area (which is near to one of the main levees which broke.)
Some of our residents and employees are back in their homes and have full services. Many others will not return home for several more weeks because the electricity has not been restored. Others have no homes to return to and are in need of and desperately looking for other housing. This is heart-wrenching because their neighborhoods no longer exist. Every day we learn about the status of others. For example, very few of our dentists and doctors have offices or hospitals at which they can re-establish their practices.
So, we had Wave I of the hurricane(s); now we are in Wave II! Events suggest that there will be many more waves ahead.
Many of you, your friends and family ask that we keep you informed as to our progress and the “State of the Union”, so to say. Magic is up and running with somewhat of a skeletal crew because approximately half of our workers have returned to the city thus far. We have been receiving and fulfilling orders.
Approximately 25% of K- Paul’s staff are back in the city and ready to work. Many more want to come back but have no housing or transportation. K-Paul’s staff has been cooking for the military, the Sheriff’s office, local firemen and civilian volunteers. Over 18,000 portions have been delivered or served on site with some of the food and supplies donated, but much still supplied by Magic Seasonings and K- Paul’s. These warm meals seem to work wonders with everyone’s spirit because many of the recipients mainly eat MRE's as their regular diet.
We are grateful for the good wishes and generous gestures. Many of you have stated that you would like to donate specifically to Chef Paul’s cooking relief efforts. Others would prefer to donate specifically to either the Magic Seasoning Blends staff or the K-Paul’s staff, especially those who have lost their homes, cars, etc. Three specific ways to assist are :
  • "Chefs Cook for Katrina” Fund :
“Chefs Cook for Katrina”, a charity effort by Chef Paul Prudhomme, is a fund at Community Foundation of Acadiana, a 501c3 organization under IRS tax codes. All donations are tax deductible. These donations will be used exclusively to help Chef Paul and other local chefs who are cooking for first responders, police, firemen, volunteers and the military. The fund provides food, supplies, paper goods, etc. to help in Katrina relief efforts. Checks must be made payable to “Community Foundation of Acadiana” and mailed to:
Community Foundation of Acadiana
Attn: Chefs Cook for Katrina
P. O. Box 3892
Lafayette, LA70502- 3892
  • Magic Seasoning Blends Staff:
For donations that would directly benefit the Magic Seasoning Blends staff, please designate “Katrina” on your check or money order and make check payable to Magic Seasoning Blends, Inc./Katrina. Please send checks to:
Magic Seasoning Blends, Inc./Katrina
P.O. Box 23342
New orleans, LA 70183-0342
  • K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen Staff:
For donations that would directly benefit the K-Paul’s staff, please make checks payable to K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen Inc./Katrina and mail checks or monetary contributions to the following:
K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen/Katrina
c/o Magic Seasoning Blends
P.O. Box 23342
New orleans, LA70183-0342
We realize that there are many large national organizations that you can donate to and they probably serve their purpose in certain situations. However, we personally are not recommending specific charities to anyone because we cannot verify where the donations are going.
In closing, we just want to reiterate our mission to move forward with our limited but dedicated staff and continue to produce consistent, quality products and great tasting food, employ as many people as possible in order to keep the companies running efficiently, and to help rebuild New Orleans on a more global scale.
We appreciate your friendship and we will continue to need your support.
Best regards,
Chef Paul Prudhomme
Chef and Owner
Shawn McBride
President and CEO
VITAL INFORMATION :The original telephone numbers at Magic Seasoning Blends are operational again. Just to review, the switchboard number is 504-731-3590. The toll-free number is 800-457-2857. The direct lines of all Magic Seasoning Blends employees are functional and as are most of the phone lines at K- Paul’s. Messages left in voice mail are checked daily and all calls will be returned. Magic Seasoning Blends’ original FAX number (504-731-3576) is now up and running also. All e-mail addresses are functioning, so keep the communication flowing!
Speaking of communication, the following are the names, e-mails and phone numbers of key Magic Seasonings and K-Paul’s staff members. We have representatives working at both K- Paul’s and Magic Seasoning Blends’ locations:
MAGIC SEASONING BLENDS:
Shawn McBride (504) 731-3580
John McBride (504) 731-3578
Paula LaCour (504) 731-3515
John Alexander (504) 731-3511
Jeff Hanson (504) 731-3566
David Hickey (504) 731-3532
Sol Grishman (504) 731-3508
Greg Villarrubia (504) 731-3519
Pat Mullins (504) 731-3509
Anna Zuniga (504) 731-3522
Jake Wanda (504) 731-3579
Angela Newitt (504) 731-3574
Carol Mauthe (504) 731-3581
Ben Beaton (504) 731-3193
Margie Blaum (504) 731-3582
K-PAUL’S LOUISIANA KITCHEN:
Paul Miller (504) 400-2338
Carl Crowder (504) 596-2534
Joel Poole (504) 947-6992
Marty Cosgrove (504) 948-6434
James Williams (504) 948-6318
Mike Calagna (504) 731-3590
Dale Strohmeyer (504) 731-3590
Sandy Crowder (504) 731-3590
Anyone wishing to contact Chef Paul directly should continue to phone Shawn McBride on her cell phone (504) 813-6796. We welcome suggestions and comments.
email:
web: