A Very Successful ‘Taste Of N’Awlins’ In Arbor Greene!

The Culinary Fund Raiser Hosted By Pam & Dr. Elliot Cazes Raised $11,000 For ‘Faces Of Courage!’ 

(Holding meat platters) Pam (left) & Dr. Elliot Cazes and their amazing team helped raise nearly $11,000 for the New Tampa-based cancer nonprofit Faces of Courage by providing a delicious “Taste of N’Awlins” to nearly 200 people on a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon. Not only did the team cook a ton of andouille sausage for Dr. Cazes’ chicken & andouille gumbo but also red beans & rice and a variety of “Po’ Boy” sandwiches. (Photos by Charmaine George)

 Mother Nature’s best efforts couldn’t keep nearly 200 people from getting “A Taste of N’Awlins” — the Cajun culinary experience hosted by long-time New Tampa residents Pam and Dr. Elliot Cazes at the Arbor Greene Community Club on Aug. 23 that raised nearly $11,000 for the New Tampa-based nonprofit called Faces of Courage. 

Fellow New Tampa resident Peggie Sherry, who founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Faces of Courage in 2004 to provide day outings, educational workshops and medically supervised overnight camps for women, children and families touched by all types of cancer and blood disorders — all at no cost — was thrilled with the event. 

“Apparently, Mother Nature decided ‘A Taste of N’Awlins’ needed a little extra Louisiana weather,” Peggie said, “but despite the torrential downpour, the local community showed up, umbrellas in hand and ready to eat, laugh, bid, buy raffle tickets and support Faces of Courage. We cannot begin to thank Dr./Chef Elliot Cazes and his hardworking wife Pam enough for this fund raiser.” 

Elliot, Pam and their team of volunteers (top photo) provided some of the most delicious chicken & andouille sausage gumbo this reporter has had (and I’ve spent some time in New Orleans), plus equally authentic Cajun-style red beans & rice and three different Po’ Boy sandwiches — roast beef, turkey and andouille sausage. 

Elliot has been cooking food for Faces of Courage’s camps “for about 20 years now,” he said, “and Peggie and her team are serving such an important role for people struggling with cancer and their families. But, the reason Pam and I put together this fund raiser was because Peggie said she didn’t have enough money to fund her upcoming Women’s Cancer Camp (being held Sept. 18-20 at Rotary’s Camp Florida in Brandon).” 

“This wasn’t just a fund raiser,” Peggie added. “It was a community coming together for one very important reason: to help raise the final $10,000 we needed to fund that Women’s Camp.” 

She added, “Elliot and Pam really took this on. They corralled just about everyone they knew — and probably a few they didn’t — to help make this event happen. They collected more than 80 donated gift cards, secured an amazing assortment of silent auction and raffle items, recruited volunteers and then, rolled up their sleeves and worked right alongside everyone else. 

“And, what a team they put together! People chopped, grilled, cooked, carried, decorated, set up, cleaned up, served food, sold water, sold raffle tickets, worked registration, managed auction items and did whatever else needed to be done!” 

And, by the end of the day, the “Taste of N’Awlins” not only met that $10,000 goal, it exceeded it. 

Peggie was clearly moved by the enormity of what was accomplished in just a few short hours on a day when the skies opened up, but the members of the local community opened up their hearts — and wallets — even more. She provided us with a list of all 20 of the event’s volunteers and every one of the nearly 90 businesses that provided anything for “A Taste of N’Awlins.” I’m just sorry I didn’t have room here to print those lists. 

Peggie also thanked, “every single person who walked through those doors. You could have looked at that rain and stayed home. Instead, you showed up. You ate. You bid. You bought raffle tickets. You volunteered. You donated. You laughed. And most important, you helped make sure women facing cancer can come to camp completely FREE of charge! 

“Rain couldn’t stop this crowd — and cancer won’t stop us either. From all of us at Faces of Courage, THANK YOU!” 

For more information about (or to donate to) Faces of Courage, visit FacesofCourage.org. 

Love Cajun Cooking? Want To Help A Great Cause? Attend ‘A Taste of N’Awlins’ Today!”

(Above) Dr./Chef Elliot Cazes will again be in the kitchen cooking up an amazing New Orleans-style feast at the “A Taste of N’Awlins” fund raiser to benefit Faces of Courage on Sunday, August 23, at the Arbor Green clubhouse.

Speaking of great chefs, while my longtime friend Elliot Cazes, M.D., may not be a chef in a restaurant (at least not yet), he certainly could be — at least in one editor’s humble opinion. 

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Elliot (a noted local OB/GYN doctor and lecturer) and I hosted a benefit to raise money to send to the victims of that brutal Category 3 (by the time it hit Louisiana) storm. 

I had so much fun watching Elliot create his famous chicken & andouille sausage gumbo and other N’Awlins cuisine items that I told him then, “You know you could do this for a living.” 

Fast forward 21 years. “Chef Elliot” is still working as a doctor, but he and his wife Pam also have been helping a wonderful organization called the “Faces of Courage Foundation,” a New Tampa-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting cancer patients and survivors. 

According to FacesofCourage.org, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by New Tampa resident Peggie D. Sherry in Jan. 2004, “provides day outings, educational workshops and medically supervised overnight camps for women, children and families touched by all types of cancer and blood disorders — all at no cost.” The organization’s motto is “No one faces cancer alone.” 

Chef Elliot shares a laugh with student volunteer Caroline Perry at a previous event.

This year’s Women’s Cancer Camp, a weekend retreat sponsored by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik’s Vinik Family Foundation, will be held Sept. 18-20, at Rotary’s Camp Florida in Brandon. But, Elliot, who has been cooking for this incredible organization’s camps for 20 years, says that, following the passing of another major sponsor, more money is needed for this year’s camps. 

To that end, he and Pam are hosting “A Taste of N’Awlins” dining event on Sunday, August 23, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., at the Arbor Greene Community Center (18000 Arbor Greene Dr.). 

“We’ll be serving my chicken and andouille gumbo (yum!), red beans & rice (double yum!) and assorted po-boy sandwiches (triple yum!),” Elliot says. “You can eat it there in the clubhouse or take it to go.” 

Please note that, the food will be cash-only — for only $20 per meal — although additional donations will be accepted in cash or by check. “It’ll be good food for a great cause and a great community,” Elliot says. “We hope to see you there on the 23rd!” 

For more info, visit FacesofCourage.org or see the ad below, but reservations are not necessary or being accepted for this event. Everyone is invited — you do not have to be an Arbor Greene resident to attend!Â