Lisa and I went to New Orleans for the Louisiana Food Association Trade Show.  It was a great show.  We brought home lots of samples and new ideas, and met lots of great people from Tony Chachere, Zatarains and Zing Zang.  Hey - we even got to meet Chef Paul Prudhomme!  We were also very interested to hear the panel assembled to speak in regard to the state of the seafood industry.  One thing we got loud and clear ...  Louisiana seafood is safe.  Probably safer that it has ever been.  What a committed, passionate group of people.  The panel consisted of experts of Louisiana Fishieries Association, LSU, NOAA, FDA, EPA.  You name it.

We stayed at The Monteleone hotel and even caught the Satchmo Music Festival.  We enjoyed brunch at the Court of Two Sisters, had a great meal at Port of Call and enjoyed a dinner out with old friends at R& O's on the Lakefront.  I am happy to report that we saw some new activity in the form of repairs/rebuilding in the area still devasted by Hurricane Katrina.  This was the first time in a long time that Lisa and I were in New Orleans by ourselves, had a few days to just relax and truly enjoy.  We filled up on some great food (of course) great music (spent some time in the Frenchman Street area), soaked up the history and architecture and took some great photos.

Where else but New Orleans would you just happen upon a parade going to Bourbon Street on a Monday night.  Yep, it was the kickoff of the new Maddon NFL video game that features the Saints.  Complete with floats, beads and bands.  Woohoo Go Saints!