Get New Orleans Cookin' Again - getneworleanscookinagain
The 2005 Tailgating Fundraiser for Hurricane Relief
The concept of Cook Me Somethin' Mister New Orleans style food mixes and outdoor cooking equipment started with a tailgating fundraiser for UNO Athletics following Hurricane Katrina. At the time, Kristen Preau was an employee of UNO Athletics and was challenged to raise money for a displaced and devastated program. With her family’s business also on the verge of closing its doors, Kristen joined her family and colleagues in creating a tailgating fundraiser called "Get New Orleans Cookin' Again!" that would raise awareness for her family business and raise money for UNO Athletics. Starting in September of 2005, the Preau family traveled with representatives from UNO to eight universities across the country during football season to tailgate and serve Paul Preau's jambalaya from his Cast Iron Pots in return for donations to the Privateer Athletic Foundation. The campaign raised nearly $100,000 for UNO Athletics and opened the door for a new opportunity for the Preau family.
Five years later, the Preau family has created Paul’s delicious jambalaya recipe into a dry mix that is now being packaged and sold as Cook Me Somethin’ Mister Jambalaya Mix. They have also launched a new product for the tailgating market with a line of painted and logoed aluminum pots called, FAN POTS. More information on the Preau’s products and business is available at www.cookmesomethinmister.com.
Today, Kristen has since joined the family business and is enjoying her new title as the “Jambalaya Girl!” She works together with her dad, Paul, and brother, Kevin, in their New Orleans office promoting Cook Me Somethin’ Mister Jambalaya Mix along side ADGAS Outdoor Cooking Products. Paul’s wife, Karen, continues to show her support by attending tailgating events, cooking at demos and making bowls of the family’s Jambalaya for fans.Her company title is “Jambalaya Mom.”
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Did you help Get New Orleans Cookin' Again?
We'd love to hear from you if you remember meeting the UNO cooking team from our tailgating fundraiser in 2005. Please share your stories with us and post any pictures you may have!
Driving hundreds of miles and cooking for thousands of people is not an easy task. We are forever grateful to everyone that supported us - from the tailgaters that donated for the jambalaya to the eight universities that served as gracious hosts (and hooked us up with AWESOME tailgating spots!)
We would also like to thank a few key people: John Barranco, Kathleen Gross, Kevin Shipp, Susan Broussard, Mike Dauenhauer, Jim Miller, Jack Duggan, Dina DeMaria, Cliff Dochterman