After a few years of throwing cook-offs, we decided to create a website for them! It’s about time! This’ll soon become the main hub for all cook-off related info and discussion.

For those of you who don’t know about us, we’re a group of people who put on food themed events. CookOffBoard.com is a place where friends/fans/chefs can interact with each other and get the most updated news on what’s happening in the world of the Cook-Off Board. We’re not actually a official “board” per sé, but we just liked the name we decided to call ourselves that. I think this quote pretty much sums it up though:

We’re friends who care about food, parties, and competition and are endlessly thinking of ways to blend the things we love.

• Check it out new site here here CookOffBoard.com
• Follow us on Twitter here: @TheCookOffBoard
• Like us on Facebook here: The Cook-Off Board on Facebook

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w6VLkSiG2Q

The New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl with a surprise 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Miami… and I was there.

Who dat?! Who dat?! Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?! Oh my god, I can’t describe the feeling I felt when the 23 year old rookie kicker, Garrett Hartley, kicked the game winning field goal in overtime to send the New Orleans Saint to the Super Bowl. 

It was probably the happiest moment of my life (second to my wedding of course ). That moment wouldn’t have been as memorable if it wasn’t for my favorite bar, Clancy’s, and the big group of NYC friends that joined in to share in this momentous occasion. I know that the Saints may not be your team or that you may not even follow football at all, but it meant a whole lot to have everyone there with us through every up and down of that game. But mostly, it was so great to celebrate the win and share that emotion with you. I’m pretty sure I hugged a few strangers amidst all of the excitement, but i doubt they minded.

I realize that football is just a sport, and this was just a game, but to a New Orleans Saints fan, this is bigger than that. This team is a part of New Orleans, sewn in it’s fabric. The Saints are just as much a part of this city as gumbo, Bourbon Street, and Mardi Gras. When the Saints do well, the city gets injected with life.

As I’m sure everyone knows, New Orleans was trampled by hurricane Katrina 5 years ago and ultimately deemed lost. It takes a lot to bounce back from something like that, but New Orleans is making a comeback. With our Saints in the Super Bowl and a potential win on the horizon, we might just move past that stigma and be thought of as the city that won.

I think the Saints head coach, Sean Payton, said it best after winning the NFC Championship:

This is for everybody in this city. This stadium used to have holes in it and used to be wet. It’s not wet anymore. This is for the city of New Orleans.

In the team’s 42 years, this is their first chance at a Super Bowl victory. This is history in the making.

I believe in The Soul of New Orleans.

Who Dat, indeed.

And if you ever don’t feel pumped enough, watch this highlight reel:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=evf2z_gFY_g

It’s always nice to get positive recognition for something you love to do. Especially if it’s by a person or organization you totally respect. Recently, Carnivale du Vin has been recognized by Smashing Magazine for it’s unique navigation. That’s pretty cool!

Billy is one of our two cats and he is awesome. He’s so awesome in fact, that he gets a blog post written about him and the beginning of his life with us.

In my opinion, everyone needs a Billy. Even if you’re not a cat lover, you’ll fall in love with this one. He has so many attractive qualities: he’s always there when you need him; he’s crazy low maintenance; he’s totally independent; and I’m almost certain he’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

The Story of Billy

Billy sitting inside my cap.

Billy was an anniversary present to Katie in December of 2004, but the way I ended up with him was by total accident.  I knew I wanted to get a cat for her, but I didn’t know exactly where or how.  I knew liked supporting local animal shelters and rescue groups, so I figured I’d start there.  So I called a bunch of shelters I looked up online and eventually found one called “Jefferson Feed.” I spoke to a lady on the phone and inquired about her cat selection and she said they had plenty, and to come on down and retrieve my new cat. So off to Jefferson Feed I went.

On the way to the shelter, I somehow got the name of the store and street mixed up and landed at a place called “Double M Feed” on Jefferson Highway.  When I asked the lady clerk about the cat we spoke about on the phone, she had no idea what I was talking about. I tried reminding her about the conversation we just had and asked if maybe I could’ve been talking to another person, but she was the only lady there. It was then I realized I was at the wrong place. Just when I was heading out to find the real Jefferson Feed, she informed me of a veterinary clinic just across the street that often had cats for adoption.  So I decided to check it out instead.

Handsome little devil.

I asked one of the vets techs if they had any available cats for adoption and she said they had one male kitten.  He had been delivered there days earlier after suffering minor injuries from and accident with a car, but said he was in good health otherwise.  The vet tech asked me to wait in a room and she would bring him to meet me.  She walked in with this bright orange, mangy, banged up, misshapen looking cat.  It was so freaked out it was clawing up the vet tech’s shoulder to get away.  Once she got him to settle down, I tried to introduce myself. He was crazy shy and got really panicky when anyone tried to touch him. I wasn’t totally sure right away if he was right for us, but I took the chance anyway. The vet tech offered to give him all of his shots for free and throw in a pet carrier.

When I brought him home, Katie was totally surprised by him. When it came to deciding on a name, for some reason I thought he kinda looked like a Billy. Katie liked it too and so Billy it became. It took a loooooong time to get him socialized, but once he got to know us, it was almost like he got too comfortable. Always sleeping on our heads at night, constantly needing attention, being picky about his food, etc… Which leads us to the Billy we all know and love today.

About Billy

• Breed:  Orange Tabby
• Gender:  male
• Birthday:  July 1, 2004
• Owned Since:  December 2004
• Hometown:  River Ridge, LA (currently residing in New York, NY)
• Likes:  sleeping, staring at things, thinking about stuff, being slapped on his butt, waking us up at night, cramming himself into things that have an opening, sitting in the windowsill, tuna
• Dislikes:  being awake, having stuff put on him, environmentally friendly litter, the vet, the sound of velcro unstrapping, hiccups

Billy Inside Things

As I mention above, Billy’s likes being inside things.  Over time I’ve caught him in a some funny places.
Here’s a few photos from Billy Inside Things:  (Click them to view the gallery)
Please excuse me for the quality for some of these photos, they were taken with my cell camera.

The key is creating small, easily attainable goals instead of vague lofty ones.  Like, I feel like saying ‘get healthy’ is too broad of a goal and would be easily disregarded.  Now, if I said ‘jog at least 4 days a week’ or ‘cut out fried foods,’ then that’s something I can set my mind to focus on and see it through.

1. Burn at least 600 measurable calories by doing something active (running, weight-lifting, break-dancing, etc) at least 4 days a week.
2. Further my knowledge in my field by reading a book on a new language and apply it to a new or existing project.
3. Find a positive outlet for dealing with stress, such as yoga, tai chi, or autogenics.
4. Learn conversational Italian before our trip to Italy by using Rosetta Store software.
5. Save more money by not splurging as much and by increasing the amount of money added to savings every month.
6. Finish my web project and launch it.
7. Cut back on alcohol intake by substituting every other drink with water or some other non-alcoholic beverage.
8. Be a better husband to my wife by helping, listening and spending more time with her.
9. Try to enjoy life more and stop worrying about silly things. (take up a new hobby, laugh more, do something totally different and random)
10. Do something to help others that are less fortunate by volunteering or donating goods/service.

Crap. The Saints end their winning streak to the Dallas Cowboys and I get a broken ankle.  Lucky me.

On Saturday, while watching my Saints get run over by the Cowboys, a blizzard was sweeping through the north east.  It started coming down about mid-day and by the time the game was over, the streets and sidewalks were covered.  After saying goodbye to some friends, I embarked on my 1 block trek home.  These cajun legs must not be snow equipped because not 10 steps in the knee deep snow I misstep and bust my ankle.  Not even realizing that it’s broken, I walk the rest of the way home and ice it down for the next day.  It wasn’t until the morning of the second day that I decided to see a doctor.  Even he thought it wasn’t broken, but after a few x-rays the final verdict was indeed a broken ankle.  A minor break, but definitely a break.   :/

Not the best way to spend Christmas or the New Year, but I guess it could’ve been a lot worse…

The Saints are 13 – 0 and all is right in the world.  What a ride this season is turing out to be!

This weekend we had an early Christmas celebration with a few out-of-towners.  We did the normal NYC Christmas stuff – Macy’s Christmas Village, Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, browse the window displays, etc… But this photo is what it’s all about.  Clancy’s is our neighborhood bar.  They treat us very well.  So well in fact, they reserve a spot for us for every Saints game.  Since we don’t have the NFL Channel and we live in NYC, it’s difficult for us to watch every Saints game, but Clancy’s always comes through for us.  Last Sunday, before everyone flew back to their respective cities, we all got together to watch the Saints defeat the Atlanta Falcons (by a very narrow victory).  After everyone constantly hearing me and Katie talk about Clancy’s, they all wanted to know what all the fuss was about.  I can’t describe home much fun it was to share our Saints/Clancy’s experience with all of our out-of-town family and friends.  I can’t wait to do it again!  WHO DAT?!

If you would like to know anymore information about me, feel free to visit the About Me section and if you would like additional information, then you can contact me.  Enjoy!