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American Morning

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Held; Chef John Besh Prepares Holiday Meal; Katrina Survivors Share Stories on Thanksgiving

Aired November 24, 2005 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. You're taking a live look at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. And there's Jason Carroll. I think he's jumping up and down to keep warm.
Jason, are you chilly? There he is. I'm telling you.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm doing pretty good. It's not that bad out here right now. Feeling pretty good. Spongebob just went by.

O'BRIEN: We -- oh, he did? Great. We have such a nice view where we are. Tell me how the folks are along the parade route, Jason.

CARROLL: I've got to tell you, these guys are great. They're terrific. We've got first-timers here. But these are -- I wanted to get these guys on. They've been living here now for about a year. They're from England. I've got Andy, and Reese and...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Austin.

CARROLL: Austin. Thank you very much.

So Andy, who are you looking forward to seeing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Chicken Little.

CARROLL: Chicken Little? Chicken Little?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Chicken Little.

CARROLL: Austin, I know you don't know who you want to see so far, right? Who did you like that you saw that went by?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I liked the Hawaiian marching band.

CARROLL: I'm wondering how the Hawaiian marching band kept themselves warm on a day like today. That's what I want to know. But I think they did a pretty good job.

I want you to take a look very quickly down the parade route. There's Chicken Little. That's what Austin and Reese were talking about. He's making his way down there. And behind him, Dora the Explorer, definitely the star of this Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

And these are more first-timers who are out here, as well. This is your first time at the parade?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it is.

CARROLL: What do you think so far?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love it. It's great.

CARROLL: Not too bad. The weather is not too bad; it's cooperating. Right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We bundled too much, so.

CARROLL: Bundled too much.

We've got a guy down here. Look at this guy, Soledad. Short sleeves. See him, Fred? Short sleeves! What is he thinking?

What are you thinking, my man? Soledad and I are looking at you. It's not that warm out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got to tell you, I brought a warm jacket. I got a head warmer and a gloves. And I got here and I was sweating. Everybody in this row was insulating me. I'm nice and comfortable here.

CARROLL: It's the warmth of the holiday spirit, Soledad. That's what this is all about.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Actually, I think it's the eggnog.

CARROLL: Right. Maybe some early morning spiked eggnog if you know what I mean.

O'BRIEN: We are looking at pictures of Barney, as well. And of course, Barney is a huge hit and Barney is not -- it's not the first time Barney's been in the parade.

Chicken Little, too. I mean, even though the movie's timing is perfect. Chicken Little has been in the parade before.

You know what? I came to watch the inflation yesterday with my daughter and I learned a lot.

Jason, thank you for the update and we can see, as you can see right over our shoulder, there's Barney. My, he's large! Look at that large purple dinosaur right over our shoulder.

COSTELLO: He's very large.

O'BRIEN: And probably about 40 handlers at least. It's so interesting.

Come up, up Barney. There you go. It's been interesting to watch how they maneuver and negotiate the turns because this is kind of a little bit of a tricky corner as you're coming through here.

COSTELLO: Yes. Going around that circle but they're doing a terrific job so far.

And you know, just like that guy in shirt sleeves said, it is cold outside and I was out there for 20 minutes and my toes are frozen. So let's head to the CNN Center in Atlanta to check out the weather with Jacqui Jeras.

Hello.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: All right, Jacqui.

Let's go outside for a moment and take a look at the marching band going by right under our window. Do you know there are 10 marching bands that are performing? No parade is complete, of course, without a marching band, or 10 or so. Marching bands from Florida, one from Georgia, one from Hawaii. Ohio's fronting (ph) a marching band. Texas, too.

And then there's a band that's made up of a corps of performers from all over the United States, as well. That's known as the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. Musicians from across the U.S. are performing in that, as well.

So what a nice opportunity for us to have a chance to hear them.

And the shot from above is absolutely spectacular. This was just great.

COSTELLO: There's a Dachshund coming. I don't know his name.

O'BRIEN: And keeps coming. And look at the crowd is just really, really growing as people are watching in expectation as this parade moves by. Thirty-six minutes the parade's been going, and we've -- we've had a terrific view of the whole thing.

We've also had a chance to check in throughout the morning with Chef Besh, because he is creating an extraordinary meal for people to whom he's really grateful, and he's in New Orleans this morning. So let's go back to him.

There you are. OK, how's it coming along?

JOHN BESH, CHEF AND OWNER, RESTAURANT AUGUST: It's coming along. We're just about there. I wish you were here to enjoy it with us.

O'BRIEN: Us, too.

BESH: We have a feast, a good Creole feast. Sweet potatoes, we've got these -- this is my wife's favorite. That's the merlitemp (ph) and shrimp stuffing. We've got this turducken. This is what we were talking about. Check this out. Soledad, you would love it. You have the duck, the turkey and the chicken inside that.

We have my mother-in-law, God bless her, just got out of the hospital. That's her famous recipe for cranberries. Our pecan pie. We have our crab meat ragout (ph).

Miss Kelly has just put together oyster dressing, crawfish andouille dressing, my wife's recipe. Rice dressing, and then we have the roast turkey for those who can't handle the turducken.

O'BRIEN: Wow! I've got to tell you.

BESH: Why don't you all come over and come eat.

O'BRIEN: Don't tempt us because you know what? I've got to tell you, Chef Besh. I have knocked myself out. Both Carol and I together spent the whole entire night making that exact meal. Right here.

COSTELLO: Amazing, isn't it?

O'BRIEN: Can we show what we've done?

Carol, I want to say, your pie, your sweet potato pie, fabulous.

COSTELLO: I know, it's the best, isn't it?

O'BRIEN: And look, these flowers. Fantastic.

BESH: There was a big joke about what's this about a fluffy sweet potato pie? Did yours come out fluffy?

O'BRIEN: Listen. With all seriousness, we actually recreated your meal because, as you know, we have lots of folks from New Orleans.

Let me grab this little guy. I just caught a child. Look, this is one of our little friends who's come to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with us. And throughout our studio we've had an opportunity to have some of the folks who really have lost a lot with Hurricane Katrina.

COSTELLO: Uh-oh.

O'BRIEN: Let's get back to Mom. And Hurricane Katrina -- have come here to celebrate the day with us. And so we have, basically, knocked off your recipes, Chef Besh, and recreated your menu here so we can enjoy Thanksgiving in New Orleans.

COSTELLO: Yes, exactly. And I'm going to taste this turducken now, because I'm very curious to see what it tastes like. I've never tasted it before. So here it goes, Chef Besh.

O'BRIEN: No fingers, hello?

COSTELLO: I'm sorry.

O'BRIEN: What, get a fork.

COSTELLO: My mom is here.

O'BRIEN: Isn't that right, Chef Besh, am I right?

BESH: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: I knew.

BESH: What do you think?

COSTELLO: You obviously didn't grow up in the Costello household. I haven't tasted it yet. I'm getting it now. It's harder to get with the fork. It is so much easier with your fingers. OK.

O'BRIEN: Delish? She loves it.

Rave reviews for your menu, chef.

COSTELLO: Very juicy.

BESH: We keep our jobs, you all. They love it.

O'BRIEN: We work another day. We work another day.

Can I ask a quick question about the stuffing, which looks just fabulous? Remind me what I put in it again when I was making it last night?

BESH: Well, what you did that was it's a little bit of andouille sausage and you have some crawfish in there and corn bread. Now, if you don't like the crawfish thing or you can't get the fresh crawfish, go ahead and just omit that. That's fine. You can add crab meat or nothing at all, just plain old corn bread and andouille stuffing. You know, like your mom used to make.

O'BRIEN: Yes. Like my mom, who's Cuban. That crawfish that we used to make, exactly. I don't think we've ever had crawfish.

BESH: That Cajun mama that you once had, way back when.

O'BRIEN: My other Cajun mom, I guess, of course.

Listen, we are so grateful...

BESH: Listen. Everyone in the parish is still asking about you all. They miss you, and you need to reappear one of these days.

O'BRIEN: You know what? I'm coming back. You know I'm coming back. We're going to be back in St. Bernard Parish.

BESH: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: Checking in on my friend Sheriff Jack, of course, who I understand will make his way here, as well. Maybe we'll check in with him.

Listen, Chef, I'm so grateful for you, not only for the meal today, which we have recreated right here, but also for everything that you've done for the people there. You know, it takes such a big heart to do that, and we really appreciate it. And we are -- we are thrilled to talk to you today. Happy Thanksgiving, OK, and best wishes to your employees too.

BESH: We all thank you so much.

COSTELLO: A short break, everybody.

BESH: Happy Thanksgiving.

O'BRIEN: Thank you.

BESH: Thanks for having us.

O'BRIEN: It's our pleasure.

Just a few moments we're going to dig in. And we're also going to take a moment to introduce you to some of the friends that we've had a chance to see today right here joining us. Some of the -- some of the folks who experienced Hurricane Katrina and still have lots to be grateful for.

That's right after this short break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPEC. JAMES PARSLEY, U.S. ARMY: I'm Specialist Parsley from Houston, Texas. I'd like to give a happy Thanksgiving to my family, tell them I love them, my wife Breanna (ph) and my baby girl, Amanda Jade (ph). I love you guys. I'll be home soon. Take care.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: We have met so many people who were devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and we've invited some to be with us in the studio today to celebrate Thanksgiving with us.

One of them is Christopher Saucedo, and we know him well as a great artist and somebody who lost most of his art in the hurricane.

CHRISTOPHER SAUCEDO, HOME DESTROYED BY KATRINA: Seven feet of water in the studio in the house. I've been there and I haven't given up, and I've been there salvaging as best I can.

COSTELLO: Is there much to salvage? I mean...

SAUCEDO: I had 20 years of drawing notebooks which were underwater, and I went through them page by page, and I picked up. I salvaged all the drawings. They're wet and the ink bled a little bit, but I spent the time. Actually, I flew them on one of my flights back up from New Orleans to Brooklyn, and I sat in my student's (ph) basement, and I pressed all the drawings. So yes, you can salvage things if you don't give up.

COSTELLO: Now I see the drawings right there. It looks like there's some mold on some of them.

SAUCEDO: I called some paper conservators, and there's ways to stop that kind of stuff.

COSTELLO: Really?

SAUCEDO: Yes. I mean, museums and libraries, you know, worldwide get flooded every now and then, so there's provisions.

COSTELLO: You have such a matter of fact attitude about -- actually, you're very positive because your life is pretty crazy. You're living with your brother here in Brooklyn along with your family, and then you're traveling to New Orleans to teach down there every once in awhile. You're going back this coming Wednesday.

SAUCEDO: Right, we're on trips back and forth, six before the year ends, and you do what you have to do. I have to be there and I have to be here, and I have to keep an eye on that stuff and the family up here.

COSTELLO: So you're salvaging your art studio. You're trying to salvage your house. You're trying to figure out where to live. Your kids are going go to school here, and you've got to figure out when you're going to go back, if you're going to go back. I mean, how can you assimilate all of that in a logical way in your mind?

SAUCEDO: I bought a day planner from 2005 on sale at a department store, and I started going through it and figuring out where we've been and how we've traveled. It's been a roller coaster, but you know, getting through it is fine.

We're in good health and we're going to be fine. Everything's wet now. Everything -- the water went down. Everything's dry, you know? We've kind of -- the worst is over.

COSTELLO: Yes. We're showing pictures of the damage done to your home. You also lost your brother, a firefighter, in 9/11. So to come back here must bring back those memories, as well.

SAUCEDO: True. And that's the real comparison. You know, Gregory died and that's the ultimate tragedy. This was a tremendous inconvenience, and it's been a huge setback, but we're fine and we'll carry on. I mean, that's what the human spirit does.

COSTELLO: So you're going to go back. You're going to rebuild. You're going to continue to live in New Orleans, because I know you're from here and you've moved to New Orleans, and you've been there for, what, 15 years.

SAUCEDO: Right. I teach at the University of New Orleans, and I'll be back. We're there. I'm already back. The future of the city is still up in the air, so we'll keep an eye on it. A lot of wait and see stuff, but in the meantime we're getting by as best we can.

COSTELLO: I know some of your kids are back here. Right?

SAUCEDO: Felicia and Michael. Felicia, Michael.

COSTELLO: Join us, come on! SAUCEDO: That's my son and daughter, Felicia and Michael.

COSTELLO: Nice to meet you both.

SAUCEDO: And they're in school in Brooklyn at PS-236, where I went to school 30, 40, whatever years ago.

COSTELLO: Well, that's pretty cool for you and them.

SAUCEDO: They found my permanent record and I was there, really. They didn't believe me.

COSTELLO: And you graduated and everything.

SAUCEDO: I really went to grammar school. And we're getting on. It's been exciting, I mean, that's one thing. It's been horrible, but it's been exciting. It certainly hasn't been a boring time.

COSTELLO: So what does this Thanksgiving Day mean to you?

SAUCEDO: It's good to be back with the family, you know? I've been living in a FEMA trailer in my backyard in Gentilly, and that's pretty thin. It's nice to be here with family and friends and to have a good time and to give thanks for what we have, which is a lot. We have a lot.

COSTELLO: We're so glad you're with us this morning and devoting some of your time to AMERICAN MORNING, also.

SAUCEDO: My pleasure.

COSTELLO: Thank you. Thank you so much.

SAUCEDO: Thank you.

COSTELLO: When we come back we'll introduce you to more of our friends. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. SCOTT SEIDEL, U.S. ARMY: Hi, my name is Captain Scott Seidel from Strawberry Point, Iowa. I want to say happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and family all over the world. Happy Thanksgiving.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Happy Thanksgiving. A message from the troops, a message from New York City today as New York hosts the Macy's Day -- Thanksgiving Day parade. On a day that turned out to be not so bad weather wise, not so windy as well. We're all very grateful for that.

Let's introduce you to some of the families who have suffered a lot in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and have lots to be grateful for, as well. We want to introduce you first to the Hamilton family. We've got Brandon (ph) and Christina, and Jelan (ph) over here is two, and he's being held by Grandpa, Dr. Phillip Barnes (ph). It's nice to have you.

You've had a tough time and now, as you try to continue your studies. You're working on your master's. You interrupted your education, and you commute now from...

CHRISTINA HAMILTON, KATRINA EVACUEE: Baltimore.

O'BRIEN: Baltimore to...

HAMILTON: White Plains.

O'BRIEN: White Plains. And Dad keeps an eye on Jelan (ph) while you do that and Grandpa helps out. How's it going for you?

HAMILTON: It's going pretty good. It's hard, but we do what we've got to do. The family has been helping out a lot. We don't have transportation any longer. We don't have our cars; they got flooded. So the family's been taking us everywhere we have to go. We've been taking the trains, the buses, you know. Everybody's been very supportive.

O'BRIEN: Bicycle, I read.

HAMILTON: Right. The bicycle, my husband has taken the bicycle to work and walked to work in the freezing cold. He rode Jelan (ph) on the bike.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's cold. It's cold.

O'BRIEN: It is cold here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm surprised I didn't get stopped by police with my baby in the arms.

HAMILTON: But he made it. He made it to work. We've got to do what we've got to do.

O'BRIEN: Well, thank you for coming to join us. We're really happy to have you.

HAMILTON: No problem.

O'BRIEN: I hope Jelan (ph) -- you know, he's been wandering around which we love. He's been enjoying parade.

HAMILTON: He has. Thank you so much.

O'BRIEN: Let's introduce you to the Castillo (ph) family. Right over here we have Thea and Catalino (ph). We have Sean (ph). How old are you, Sean (ph)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ten.

O'BRIEN: Ten years old. And your little brother, Katage (ph), is over here. He's my boyfriend from earlier. You'll remember. We were watching. We were getting the best shot in the house.

You guys, you have also lost a ton. You've spent a little time being evacuated and a little time in the Astrodome and made your way, as well, to Brooklyn.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.

O'BRIEN: How's it been going for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's pretty much -- pretty good, you know what I'm saying? And I'm just thankful to be here.

O'BRIEN: Home Depot has helped you out a lot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, definitely.

O'BRIEN: They put a thousand bucks in your account.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, in the account. Yes.

O'BRIEN: And you did what with the money?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've just been trying to get our life back in order, take care of the kids, get them some clothes. You know, get ready for this winter, because it's -- it's way colder here in New York than down in New Orleans.

O'BRIEN: You noticed that, huh? Yes, winters are pretty bitter here. How are these guys doing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're doing fine. They're in St. Michael's Catholic School.

O'BRIEN: They helped you out a ton, too.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely. So we have a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

O'BRIEN: We have a lot to be grateful for, having you come and join us and sharing your story.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: We really appreciate it.

I'm going to make my way right over here with the Snows. You've got Flo, mom over here, and then Celine and Cedrick (ph). We spent a little time yesterday as they were blowing up -- inflating, sorry. Inflating the balloons. They hate the blowing up thing. Inflating the balloons.

You have -- you got tipped off to White Plains as a place that would help you out as a Katrina victim, by a waitress in a diner. Right?

FLO SNOW, KATRINA EVACUEE: Yes. We were in the diner and the lady -- we were talking about the fact that we had no place to be, really, and a couple said, "Well, you know, you should check with the White Plains mayor's office. They're offering six apartments to Katrina victims."

So we called them. We did all the paperwork, qualified and we have a nice apartment and we make life happen over here. It's wonderful, actually. People are very -- pouring their heart. It's -- it's...

O'BRIEN: Cedrick (ph) has been such, like, the class clown today. It has been such a pleasure, by the way. Your children are so lovely to spend time with. I really enjoyed it.

SNOW: Thank you...

O'BRIEN: Thank you so much for being with us.

SNOW: ... for having us here.

O'BRIEN: We really appreciate your time. We're going to take a short break, and we're back in just a moment. Stay with us on this special edition of AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: A reminder for you now: starting on Monday, AMERICAN MORNING comes to you starting at a new time. We begin at 6 a.m. Eastern Time, so more AMERICAN MORNING in your day, every day, starting this Monday.

And we kick it all off with an interview with Lieutenant General Russel Honore. We have an exclusive interview with him on the extended edition of AMERICAN MORNING. It begins 6 a.m. Eastern Time.

COSTELLO: And he did so much for the spirit of the people of New Orleans after everything they've lost during Hurricane Katrina.

And we'd like to thank everybody who dropped by on this Thanksgiving Day.

O'BRIEN: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: All of the people so affected by Hurricane Katrina that came to give their time to us. And that makes me feel pretty special. So happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

O'BRIEN: Thank you, guys. Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing your day with us. We appreciate it.

Everybody, I hope you're enjoying the parade, and thank you for being with us. We'll see you back here on Monday morning starting at 6 a.m. Eastern.

COSTELLO: We're here tomorrow.

O'BRIEN: That was so Freudian, it's not even funny. COSTELLO: You know what I'm thinking.

O'BRIEN: We'll see you back here tomorrow first, though. Have a great day. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Let's get right to Fredricka Whitfield.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Thanks a lot. The week is not over just yet.

O'BRIEN: I know.

WHITFIELD: It is just about. But we'll be all tuning in earlier on Monday morning. All right. Have a great Thanksgiving, you all and a great week.

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