Benefit For Ritz Chef Matt Murphy June 14, $65

Thanks to Tom Fitzmorris for getting this out there:


Matt Murphy--the extraordinarily likeable, Irish-born chef of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel--is clinging to life at Ochsner Hospital right now. An invasive streptococcus infection has led to DIC--a condition in which blood clots form and interrupt normal blood flow throughout the body, causing organs to shut down.

He is in intensive care, and in need of blood donations. Go to Ochsner's Blood Bank at its Jefferson Highway facility if you can help.

What makes this particularly worthy of your generosity is that Matt and his wife are the parents of eighteen-month-old quadruplets. And they have another child on the way. This raises the spectre of a family financial crisis. A fund to help Matt's family has been established at Capital One Bank. It's called the Matthew J. Murphy Donation Account, #2077720319. Donations will be accepted at any Capital One branch.

As they always do, the chefs of the city have rallied around this worthy cause. There will be a fundraising benefit at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, June 14, 4-8 p.m. It is underpriced at $65; I recommend you give $100. Call 504-670-2828 to nail down tickets. Here's a partial list (more are signing on daily) of the chefs who'll be there serving food:

* Scott Boswell (Stella!)
* Justin Devillier (La Petit Grocery)
* Tenney Flynn (GW Fins)
* Donald Link (Herbsaint and Cochon)
* John Folse
* Bob Iacovone (Cuvee)
* Brian Landry (Galatoire's)
* Duke LoCicero (Cafe Giovanni)
* Jean Luc Albin (Maurice's French Pastries)
* Gus Martin (Muriel's)
* Mark Quitney (New Orleans Marriott)
* Greg Reggio (Zea)
* Jacques Saleun (Chateau du Lac)
* Susan Spicer (Bayona)
* Chuck Subra (La Cote Brasserie)
* Kevin Vizard (Vizard's)