As one of the Foodbuzz: 24 X 24 Gulf Coast Ambassadors, last night it was my privilege to participate and showcase the cuisine of the Gulf Coast region. This event was held in St Pete, Florida at my friend Jennie's house with the proceeds going to the Greater New Orleans Foundation thanks to Foodbuzz with the focus on helping fishermen and their families in the area who have been subjected to the fallout from the BP oil disaster since April 20, 2010.

The stakes have been devastating to every single state along the Gulf Of Mexico and nobody knows if there will be much of a future for inhabitants or residents of the area. There is a darkness that looms in our offshore waters and the oil invasion is currently taking a heavy toll on all of us living in the coastal regions.

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oil spill layer in Google Earth

Like most everybody, I have been watching with horror as the events in the Gulf of Mexico have been unfolding over the last 50 days. Lately I have been using technology to make the most sense of what is actually going on out there. In case anybody has missed it, Google has a crisis response page for the oil spill located at http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/oilspill/. You can get the latest maps and Google Earth layers as well as watch YouTube videos and get the latest news.

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When I was in France for 3 weeks I ate the best meals of my life. Their sheer passion in food is reason enough to plan a visit. Their meals are amazing because it is the best quality that it can be. It's like they all have these neon signs flashing over them that reads, "Je ne mange mieux, mettre vos ourdures pour les touristes"; obvious only if you can read French. I didn't see many overweight people in France!

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As the oil monster continues to toil through the depths of the Gulf of Mexico I take snapshots along my route.

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Good morning, my evenings are filled with walking the dog and bike rides. All the things my day rarely allows due to the scorching sun and of course work.

Last night I grilled this meaty portabella mushroom burger and made some guacamole and coated one side of the bun with yummy goodness. This is so much better on a kaiser roll than the bread slices I used last week.

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What the heck are we supposed to think of the fish now? NOAA closed 19% of the Gulf of Mexico to fishing. The gulf is the only known spawning ground for Atlantic bluefin tuna.

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photo courtesy of jeferonix

Everyday I'm haunted by the reality. The Florida Gulf Coast is usually a haven for those seeking refuge. It is now an oily grave moving like a black plague of death. What if BP is unsuccessful in fixing this? Their track record isn't exactly stellar. Efforts so far have been thwarted. The capricious nature of this environmental disaster has yet to fully unfold. Will there be a future for Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida?

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