Po' Boy Power! Raising $$ Again! Women Chefs & Louisiana Delegates Take Charge

Following the success of its initial event, a second "Po' Boy Power!" fundraiser has been scheduled. This fundraiser is being held with the support of the Washington DC chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, an international culinary organization for women, and the DC chapter of Slow Food International, to provide continued assistance to those in need. This event will be held November 1, 2005, All Saints' Day, at Acadiana in DC (a religious holiday widely celebrated in New Orleans).

On November 1st, po' boys will be sold for donations of $25 and up at Acadiana (a Louisiana style restaurant under the direction of Executive Chef Jeff Tunks), located at 901 New York Avenue, NW, in Washington DC. Sandwiches will be sold from 11:30 am-2:30 pm. The po' boys will be assembled by 10 female chefs paired with politicians and other local personalities with ties to Louisiana. The first Louisiana dignitary to come on board was The Honorable Lindy Boggs (former Congresswoman and former Ambassador to the Holy See), quickly followed by Congressman Charlie Melancon and former Congressman Robert Livingston. Donations from this event will be used to limit the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina on Louisiana farmers, harvesters, fishermen, and seafood purveyors. All funds raised will be distributed directly to affected farmers through Slow Food International's Terra Madre Program. Can the women top the $27,000 the group of male chefs raised in September? So far, we can look forward to the talents and efforts of Laurie Weber Alleman (The Swiss Bakery), Susan Callahan (Synergy Arts), Ann Cashion (Cashion's Eat Place and Johnny's Half Shell), Gillian Clark (Colorado Kitchen), Patrice Dionot (L'academie de Cuisine), Lynn Foster (private chef), Ruth Gresser (Pizzeria Paradiso), Carla Hall (Alchemy Caterers), Kate Jansen (Willow Restaurant), Janis McLean (Red Dog Cafe), Bridget Meagher (Alexander's in Charlottesville), Joan Nathan (cookbook author/writer), Nona Nielsen-Parker (Stone Mill Bakery, Cafe & Catering), Caroline Bruder Ross (Rick's Wine and Gourmet), and Anna Saint John (Catering by Anna Saint John).

The po' boy is the classic meal of a crisis situation, a symbol of hard times made better. The iconic New Orleans sandwich is said to have originated in the early 20th century; the name derives from the plea, "Give a po' boy a sandwich?" and the hearty sandwich might have been the only sustenance an impoverished laborer had throughout the day. For this reason, a group of high-profile Washington chefs decided to pull together and sell po' boys for donations of $25 and up to raise money for the relief efforts in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region following Hurricane Katrina. "Though twenty-five dollars was the asking price, some of those tasty po' boys went for a lot more," said Simone Rathli, chairperson of the Po' Boy Power Movement. The first "Po' Boy Power!" fundraiser was held at Acadiana restaurant in Washington DC on Monday, September 12, 2005 and raised more than $27,000 for the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation.

"Po' Boy Power!" started in the nation's capital on Monday, September 12. In a heartwarming development, the movement next caught on in Halifax, Nova Scotia, thanks to the warm historic ties between the Acadian and Cajun cultures. Chef Alon Shaya of The Besh Steakhouse in New Orleans was a special guest chef at the annual Grou Tyme Festival celebrating the Nova Scotia-Louisiana bond, and his presence inspired festival planners to host their own "Po' Boy Power!" event in a special waterfront tent. More than $10,000 was raised for the American Red Cross.

I got the power! I ate a po' boy!"