Terry Fortia, a Hurricane Katrina survivor and native of Louisiana, knew he was a good cook, but never imagined that his culinary skills would one day make him one of the most popular chefs in Hollywood. Fortia has served dishes to many celebrities, including Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, Ludacris, Kate Moss, Rachel Bilson, Adam Brody, Stevie Wonder, and more. As chef-in-residence at Los Angeles’ Memphis restaurant, Fortia’s recipe for success began with pots, pans, and a dash of ambition.

As a child, Fortia was always interested in cooking. He spent his time watching his grandmother and mother cook in the kitchen. But it wasn’t until Fortia’s first job as a dishwasher at the New Orleans Petroleum Club that her fate became clearer.

A chef named Carlos piqued her interest by teaching her more about cooking. An attentive Fortia began taking mental notes, building her resume at other restaurants, as she explored the world of culinary arts.

“I call him [my training] the school of hard knocks. I didn’t think about going to school to be a chef. I happened to get my first job as a dishwasher, and it happened automatically, “Fortia said.

As an adult, Fortia’s life in Louisiana was exciting and content. He had found his niche in the kitchen and his conditions were stable. He was even eager to buy a new home for his wife and five children.

Hurricane Katrina

Then came the news that a hurricane called Katrina was coming.

“My wife and I were planning to evacuate with my uncle, but she didn’t want to leave her mother, so we ended up going to her mother’s house and weathering the storm. [over] up there in uptown New Orleans. “

Like many evacuees, his family packed lightly. According to Fortia, the family packed “some clothes, water, preserves, batteries, flashlights …”

As Fortia “weathered the storm,” on August 29, the levees separating two lakes opened and flooded approximately 80% of New Orleans, causing a power outage and submerging entire communities under water.

After Katrina: The Dream Center

After the storms and floods subsided, Fortia and her family were living in a backroom shelter for a week when they learned of a tempting offer.

Dream Center, a large shelter and religious organization in Los Angeles, CA, offered families the option of relocating to their Dream Center shelter in Los Angeles. Fortia hoped to have “cleaner beds, rooms and facilities” where her family could live without separation.

While waiting for his flight at the Baton Rouge, Louisiana airport, Fortia has the opportunity to meet with NBC Nightly News host Brian Williams. Williams introduced himself and began a casual conversation. “[Williams] He didn’t come up to me like, ‘Are you a Katrina victim?’ I wasn’t looking for something like that. He started talking like you and I were at a bus stop or something, “Fortia said.

Later that night, William’s broadcast included his interview with Fortia.

Memphis employees saw Fortia on NBC’s Nightly News and were interested in meeting with him to discuss a possible job opportunity. Shortly after Fortia’s broadcast, they headed to the Dream Center and left Fortia’s contact information.

Once Fortia saw southern dishes on the Memphis menu, she said, “This is my way!”

When Fortia was ready to interview Memphis, he got another helping hand.

Actor Windsor Harmon, who plays “Thorne Forrester” in The Bold and the Beautiful, had already spent two weeks with Fortia at the Dream Center and offered to drive him to the restaurant. “I was caught in disbelief,” Fortia said. Soon after, Fortia was cooking up a storm in Memphis.

“I am lucky to work here,” he said. “I have my own job and everything, but you wonder what it would be like if the storm didn’t hit. Everybody is trying to get their life back on track,” Fortia said.

Although the cost of ownership in Los Angeles is daunting, as a parent, Fortia is pleased that her children are receiving a better education.

“One of the things I like about Los Angeles is the school system [is] better. The worst school here is probably better than the best school [in Louisiana], and sad to say. The Texas school board would not allow [Louisiana teachers who applied for jobs] to teach because they weren’t qualified. That just goes to show you what Louisiana thinks of its children’s education. “

What does the future hold?

Fortia has her sights set on opening a restaurant. You already have a theme and a menu in mind. The missing ingredient is a partner who will share your vision. His success is the result of selfless compassion and generosity from strangers, in addition to his strong faith.

“You always have to have faith in God. I knew that my God was not going to abandon me. I only knew that it was going to arrive, I did not know when, but it arrived. If you don’t have faith, I don’t have nothing. That’s what I believe.”

Almost a year after Katrina, Louisiana and many other states still look like a war zone. During an emotional press conference on March 8, 2006, country singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw said they were “embarrassed” and “humiliated” by the Katrina rebuilding effort.

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