Celebrity Chef Feeds The Refinery
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
A unique culinary experience awaited residents of The Refinery who entered the shelter dining hall on Thursday night, as a celebrity chef and national television personalities from the Outdoor Channel served a supper that highlighted the network-sponsored Hunt.Fish.Feed program.
The event that fed about 40 men currently living at the shelter facility on West South Street, was sponsored by Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News, which has a cable franchise located in Opelousas.
Chef Susie Jimenez, who has hosted cooking shows and demonstrations on several national networks, handled the food preparation of venison smothered in stir-fried vegetables,wild rice and vegetables and a vegetable-packed fried egg roll.
Jimenez began presiding over her dishes at 11 am Thursday, as she was assisted in the kitchen by local Spectrum volunteers
Dave Monroe, director of marketing for the Outdoor Channel, said Hunt.Fish.Feed, instituted 17 years ago by the network, is designed to create more awareness that outdoorsmen can contribute portions of their harvests and catches in order to help feed individuals who are hungry..
Monroe said the Outdoor Channel chose The Refinery as one of several destinations used by the network to illustrate how fish and wild game can be used as a food source for a large group of individuals that are less fortunate.
Nate Holm, Outdoor Channel distribution director, said the network normally brings along culinary personalities like Jimenez to feed groups such as those who were provided the The Refinery meal.
“We’ve fed over 45,000 since we began this initiative. We’ve been everywhere over the 17 years, from Hawaii to New Hampshire,” Holm said.
Jimenez added that cooked venison, such as the dish she cooked Thursday night, is an excellent source of meat that contains little fat.
Next week the Outdoor Channel will move its food awareness program to Kerrville, Tex., according to Holm.
“We want to spend time feeding people in the area that was devastated by the flood in July. Individuals from that area are still struggling,” Holm said.
State Speaker Of The House Phillip Devillier and District 40 state representative Dustin Miller spoke to The Refinery residents before the meal was served.
Devillier, who represents portions of three parishes including St. Landry said that his Thursday tour of The Refinery campus was inspiring.
“It’s one of the greatest things that I’ve done during the past two years. In Louisiana we work together in order to make sure that we can succeed,” said Devillier.
Miller said The Refinery experience is “a great opportunity” to prepare the men living there for workforce reentry.
“When you are here, you are able to take time to find God and get yourself together. We are going to be here for you’all. You never know what life is going to hit you with, so it’s important that you can take advantage of the opportunities that are offered here,” Miller said.
