Members of the Association of Food Journalists  learned about "The New Orleans You Don't Know" at the group's recent conference.

Debbie Moose and other attendees learned about how the growing of sugar affected the region, open hearth cooking and Creole Thanksgiving traditions. A morning-long program focused on electronic media. Debbie also had a session with writing coach in residence John T. Edge, author of several books on Southern food.

Chefs including Emeril Lagasse and John Besh prepared food for the group.

Some members, including Debbie, toured areas of the city that are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. She also visited Green Charter School, which was one of the first of chef Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard projects located outside California. The Edible Schoolyard aims to help children learn healthy eating and connect to the land by growing food on school grounds - and, ultimately, make school lunches healthier. Debbie gave back to the still-struggling community by helping clean up the garden for the fall.

"I learn so much from the speakers, the experiences and from my colleagues at these conferences," Debbie said. "I always come home energized."

The Association of Food Journalists is a nationwide organization for food writers and editors.