Hi list, I want to thank everyone who has responded. You have all been so nice answering my questions about the area. No one in my local FHC seems to know about the Midwest or the West. They all seem to know about the local area and France. The funny thing is I never felt like a native of New Orleans even though I was born here. I didn't have any relatives here. My mother was born in San Francisco. I don't even like the famous food here. I think I cook like the Midwest. I'm a meat and potatoes girl. I have even had people to ask where I was born. Apparently I don't have the accent down pat. Diane Hall