The incredible outpouring of support that New Orleans has received from so many people worldwide has been phenomenal. It seems that everywhere I turn there are small businesses, large corporations, and individuals that are each trying to do something to help in the relief effort. Growing up in Texas, I was fortunate to have been able to visit the city of New Orleans on many occasions. There is truly nothing quite like it, with an energy all its own, a mixture of magical wildness and vitality, Southern hospitality, and an incredible cuisine all its own.

I may blog during the wee hours of the night, but in the daytime I work as a cookbook editor. I've devoted a good part of the past 2 1/2 years to working on the Williams-Sonoma Foods of the World series. In a twist of fate, one of my books in the series, Foods of the World New Orleans, was released in stores shortly before Katrina devastated the area. Williams-Sonoma recently announced that they would donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the book to the American Red Cross in support of its hurricane-relief efforts until October 16. The book is available in Williams-Sonoma stores now and can be purchased online. It is a beautiful tribute to the city and the people of New Orleans, and many restaurants, food artisans, small businesses and other individuals in the culinary community of New Orleans were involved in making this book happen. For me, this book is a tribute to those people, and my heart goes out to them.