7-22-11 Kid Chef Eliana in the WWL-TV Studio Kitchen

Friends:

Kid Chef Eliana appeared on WWL-TV Morning News with Sally-Ann Roberts and Eric Paulsen. You can view the video segment of her appearance here.

We arrived at the studio at 5:30am and prepared for the 3 hour show. Eliana had to cook the entire time and feed a crew of 20 people. She made Scotch eggs (hard-boiled eggs encased in homemade turkey sausage, rolled in bread crumbs and baked), garlic cumin potatoes, devil’s food monster muffins, and sparkling pomegranate punch. Everyone loved her food!

The crew, both on and off-camera, were so impressed with Eliana. Sally-Ann Roberts and Eric Paulsen were so sweet to Eliana. Sally-Ann said that Eliana needed her own TV show. Eric tweeted, “You are going to be a rock star in the culinary world!”

Thank you to Liz Williams of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum for appearing on the show with Eliana. Thank you to Producer Dionne Butler for inviting Eliana. Thank you to the camera crew for directing Eliana and being so nice. Finally, thank you to Sally-Ann and Eric for being amazing and sweet to Kid Chef Eliana!

7-22-11 Kid Chef Eliana with Sally-Ann Roberts and Eric Paulsen at WWL-TV

It was a fabulous experience for both of us!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

6-10-09 Jasmynn & Eliana take a dip

Friends:

Before leaving St. Martin Parish to go to St. Mary Parish, Jasmynn, my 7 year old niece, and Eliana, my 8 year old daughter, had to take a dip in the Olympic size swimming pool at our hotel. They were like two little fish who did not want to be land-bound!

Today, I performed in St. Mary Parish at the Patterson Branch Library and the West End Branch Library in Baldwin. It was so cool because I had the distinction of being the first performer in the brand new library in Patterson. It is simply gorgeous!

6-11-09 Brand new library in Patterson, Louisiana. Wow!

St. Mary Parish is celebrating “Once Upon A Time” this summer so my program “Fairytale Fever” fit right in. The kids and I had a blast. After my show, they didn’t want to leave!

6-11-09 Dianne and friends performing "Princess Pat" in the children's section of the new Patterson Branch Library

Thank you to Leisha and all the staff of the Patterson Branch for making our visit so much fun!

After Patterson, we headed to Baldwin. The West End Branch Library in Baldwin wins the prize for “Most Glamorous” in the library beauty pageant. Every section of their library was decorated with a different theme. One corner was outfitted with cowboy duds, while another corner was jazzed up with Louisiana music decor. The crowning glory of the library was the jumpin’, jammin’ jungle (once known as the children’s section).  You can definitely tell that the Baldwin librarians are wild about their library!

6-11-09 Jasmynn & Eliana standing in front of the "Jungle" at the West End Branch Library in Baldwin, LA. Watch out for the swinging monkeys, girls!

The Teche Talk, a local cable TV station came and filmed the show. The children and I had so much fun.

6-11-09 Dianne and friends performing at the West End Branch Library in Baldwin, LA

It was a great day and we enjoyed every minute of it! Thank you to my new friends in St. Mary Parish. We look forward to our next visit!

Tomorrow – LaSalle Parish (Olla and Jena, Louisiana)! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Welcome to ABC-26 WGNO TV studios 2-20-09

Friends:

This morning, I had the privilege of being on the TV news show, Good Morning New Orleans ABC-26 WGNO. I woke up at 4:00 a.m. (I shouldn’t complain – the news crew does it every day, right?!) and drove to the studio located at the Galleria in Metairie, Louisiana. After waiting to be let into the reception area, I was led to the Good Morning New Orleans studio.

Entering the studio areas 2-20-09

I sat down inside the studio, waiting and watching the various news segments.

Dianne waiting to go on inside the studio 2-20-09

I came in just as they were doing a Mardi Gras segment on carnival cocktails made by the city’s bartender of the year. He made a “mocha” coffee that looked delicious. I, however, did not join in the morning cocktail hour (I do have to teach at a school today!).

Inside the Good Morning New Orleans studio 2-20-09

The Good Morning New Orleans news team is a fun, lively group. They play and joke with each other during the breaks and made me feel very at ease. The gorgeous women, Cyndi Nguyen and Anna Adair, made constant eye contact and smiled at me as I waited to go on, even conversing and joking with me. I enjoyed being on the show although my segment felt like a whirlwind!

The entire Good Morning New Orleans team - L to R - Hank Allen (weather), Cyndi Nguyen, Jon Huffman, Anna Adair 2-20-09

When I went on, I talked about my book and even sang the story’s chorus, “Run, cher, run as fast as you can – You can’t catch me, I’m full of cayenne.” Jon laughed and said, “A little Cajun rap.” They showed the book and really seemed to enjoy my Cajun Cornbread Boy puppet.

Thank you, Good Morning New Orleans and ABC-26 for having me on the show. It was a blast!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne