Hurricane Katrina refugee shares his story of life after disaster

Ten year ago this week, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast were struck by one of the most devastating and costly disasters in U.S. history.

Shortly after the storm, the city of Colorado Springs welcomed thousands of Hurricane Katrina refugees.

And some still live here — including one man who is bringing a unique flavor to Southern Colorado.

Robert Brunet, better known as Chef BB, is trying to bring New Orleans to the Springs.

“It was a journey our family wasn’t prepared to take but we didn’t have much choice,” he remembered.

But he said he sees the evacuation as a positive thing.

“It causes you to rethink things and rebuild–not just your home–but your life to make it how you want it,” Brunet said.

And he decided he wanted to own a restaurant. Without any cooking experience besides what he learned from his Momma Pearl and his 12 siblings, he took a leap of faith and opened Momma Pearl’s Cajun Kitchen.

He said it helps ease the homesickness.

“I don’t have to miss anything, it’s all here! We have the music, we have the food, the laissez les bon temps rouler, which means ‘let the good times roll’,” Brunet said.

It’s been a success since he opened, receiving rave reviews and enticing people from all over the country to get a taste of real Louisiana cooking.

“We just love it when people come here and say, ‘This is the real deal,’ that’s the biggest compliment we can get,” he said.

The restaurant has been opened for three years and already won “Best of Colorado Springs” by two different newspapers.

“It’s fun because you don’t know where life will take you but you can’t wait for your ship to come in, sometimes you have to build it yourself,” he said

He is planning on expanding the restaurant soon. Chef BB said his home cooking business “The House Chef” is also doing well.