another harsh blow, the bp oil disaster. for three months, millions of barrels of oil poured into the gulf of mexico, coating wildlife, blackening beaches, poisoning louisiana's precious seafood. less violent than a hurricane, it was more like a slow strangulation of hope. >> this is like a cancer. this is a disease. how can we remedy this? the oil's on the bottom with the shrimp, the fish, everything. >> and what happens in the gulf directly impacts the people of new orleans. the city's economy depends on the millions of tourists attracted by its unique cuisine. >> the food culture really does revolve a lot around the seafood. they say in new orleans, you know, we don't have the traditional seasons. we have crab season, oyster season, crawfish season. >> before the oil crisis, new orleans chef susan spicer was