We had a festive time at the International Association of Culinary Professionals 30^th Annual International Conference in New Orleans in April. Here’s one of my fave shots, taken during the Gumbo Giveback where we tasted Gumbo Z’Herbes, Seafood Gumbo, and Gumbo Ya-Ya, among others. The event was held at the Crescent City Farmers Market, one of the first markets back in operation after Hurricane Katrina. We enjoyed dancing to a blue-grass band with the backdrop of a farm scene painted on the vintage brick buildings. Let the good times roll! 

Another interesting find at the Gumbo Gala was softshell crawfish, a local delicacy that rivals the East Coast’s famous softshell crab. Having been born and raised in Philadelphia, I grew up on those. Mom (may she rest in peace) used to cut the heads off the live crab with a pair of small manicure scissors reserved for the job, dip the limp crabs in egg wash and Ritz bread crumbs, and fry ‘em up in a skillet bubbling with at least half a stick of real Land O’Lakes butter. Those were the good, ol’ (innocent!) days, before Lipitor and Crestor.