Dispatch From New Orleans

Yin Yang Twins rock New Orleans Saints fans

In New Orleans, we can't get enough of this Halftime song: Stand Up and Get Crunk.

Coach Sean Payton wants to know: Does your house contain tainted drywall?

By Kathy Price-Robinson for DIY Life:

Lately, when Louisiana residents like myself see New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton on TV, it's usually not in reference to the Saints' first-ever trip to the Super Bowl February 7.

Rather, in numerous ad spots, Payton can be seen discussing tainted drywall from China that was used in his home in Mandeville, just north of New Orleans. In the ads, he urges homeowners to take notice and perhaps seek legal help.

Payton is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit filed last month in U.S. District Court against Knauf Plasterboard Tainjin Co. Ltd, a Chinese drywall manufacturer. According to Payton and and his attorneys, ingredients in the drywall smell like rotten eggs, and corroded certain metal components in the house -- such as plumbing and electrical equipment -- and caused his family to become sick. Payton now considers his house uninhabitable and moved his family out.

See the whole story at www.diylife.com

Official hot sauce of the New Orleans Saints

Something fired up the New Orleans Saints for their NFL Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Do you think it was hot sauce?

Baumer Foods would like to think so. Their Crystal Hot Sauce is the office mouth-burning condiment of the Saints.

Crystal Hot Sauce was first made in 1923, when the Baumer family first ground up, aged and then bottled cayenne peppers. Baumer Foods was founded by Alvin and Mildred Baumer on Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans. Their son, Alvin Baumer Jr. now carried on the tradition.

Each year, 3 million gallons of Crystal are shipped out of the New Orleans plant, and it is sold in 73 countries.

Now that the Saints are headed to the Super Bowl Feb. 7, they're sure to slugging down the hot sauce. As we say in New Orleans, "Bless dem boys!"

See a New Orleans family hand out bottles of Crystal Hot Sauce during last year's Mardi Gras.

Online Special: Six bottles of Saints-branded Crystal Hot Sauce and a Saints koozie for $5.

Whatcha Eatin'? — New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees

 After watching quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints dominate the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football (38-17), you've got to wonder:

What is this guy eating?

Not too long ago, Men's Journal asked Drew about his favorite foods, among other things. And down here in New Orleans, whatcha eatin' is often the topic of the day, interspersed with whatcha eat yesterday and whatcha planning to eat tomorrow.

See the whole story at theinsider.tripvine.com

Saints vs. Patriots Naked Pizza Throwdown

When the undefeated New Orleans Saints face the three-time Super Bowl champions New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, you may notice fuzzy allegiances.

On one hand, New Orleanians will head to the Superdome for their legendary tailgate parties and then to the game, where their team will whoop the daylights out of the Patriots.

Or, lacking Superdome tickets, rabid Saints fans will don their Saints shirts and hats and run all over town buying snacks for the 7:30 p.m. game on ESPN.

See the whole story at theinsider.tripvine.com