Executive Chef Carl Schaubhut
Many locals and visitors alike may remember restaurant FIRE at Gulf Place (now Messina’s) and its original Executive Chef Carl Schaubhut.
Carl and his restaurant family moved to South Walton to open FIRE after being displaced by Katrina in New Orleans. Later, Carl was called back to New Orleans to work under the tutelage of Chef Tory McPhail at Commander’s Palace and currently is at the helm of its sister restaurant, Cafe Adelaide, as the Executive Chef.
In the last 10 days the life of friend Chef Carl has been turned upside down, along with that of his wife Alix whom he met and married during his time on 30A. The couple with two young children ages one and three, found on April 1st (April Fool’s Day) while Carl was undergoing a procedure to diagnose what was thought to be an ulcer, that he has cancer. In his words, he says, “I have been diagnosed with stage III esophageal adenocarcinoma, primarily of the gastroesophageal (GE) junction. In other words, I have a tumor that is located where the stomach meets the esophagus. It started as simple abdominal pains that we thought were the beginning stages of an ulcer or gastritis due to stress. No one thought given my age, health, and family history that cancer was a possibility. I proved them wrong, and plan to do it again when we beat this. This diagnosis came to us on April Fool’s Day through a diagnostic EGD where we thought we would likely find an ulcer. It has been a sprint since then with one procedure after another. Each test has revealed more of the severity of this cancer, given its location and the likelihood that it’s been there for some time.”
Chemotherapy begins April 15th at Ochsner Medical Center, followed by surgery and extensive recovery. Carl is remaining positive, saying, “We will get through this. We will stay strong. We will stay positive. I will live!”
Alix’s sister Vicky reached out to 30A EATS today and asked that we share his plight and information about his new website blog called, Carl’s Quarters-Kicking Cancer In The Gut. Alix and Carl set up Carl’s Quarters in the hopes of keeping interested parties updated on Carl’s condition, progress and as a way to contact them. Carl will be developing new recipes that he plans to share as he changes his way of eating, and individuals who care to help by donating, sending food, or just want to leave words of encouragement can do so on the site as well.
the 30AEATS.com and GulfCoastRestaurant.com family is sending the best of well wishes, prayers and support to Carl in New Orleans as he takes on the fight of his life. Please consider visiting Carl’s Quarters (click here) to leave uplifting comments as well.
Donations kindly accepted and appreciated here
Want to know more about the Chef? Click here: 20 Questions with Chef Carl Schaubhut
