When Hurricane Katrina wiped out both Linda “GG” Gibson’s New Orleans home and her thriving café and catering business, Gibson relocated to Georgia.

It wasn’t long before she put her culinary talents back to work, offering her Louisiana specialties online and at area farmers markets.

Her commercial kitchen is in Woodstock, but Gibson lives in north Fulton.

Soon thereafter, customers at the Riverside, Marietta and Sweet Apple markets began asking her where they could buy her food on non-market days.

“I knew I wasn’t going back into the restaurant business,” she said. “I just knew I had to start looking for a place to open a shop.”

Her chosen location was historic downtown Roswell because its pedestrian-friendly environment and the vibrancy of the scene reminded her of New Orleans.

A spot on Webb Street on the side of the building facing south caught her attention.

Though it already had a prospective tenant, that deal fell through and Gibson had her chance.

Seven years since the hurricane ravaged her life, Gibson felt the Webb Street storefront was her ticket to a new beginning.

“The minute I walked in the door I wanted it. I just knew this was the place for me to make it happen again,” she said.

Open just three weeks, GG’s to Geaux (a Creole French play on the word “go”) is a small, cheerful shop with both a refrigerated and freezer case for her take out entrees, desserts and muffaletta sandwiches with tangy olive relish.

The 6-inch crawfish pies can go directly from her freezer into a home oven. Rich with cream and full of flavor, the spice level in the pie is just right, neither too hot nor too bland.

Also in the freezer case are seafood gumbo, Creole corn chowder and savory Louisiana red beans.

Refrigerated desserts include a very good carrot cake and a sinfully delicious bread pudding with praline sauce.

Gibson’s food is hand made with all natural ingredients.

Her authentic Creole recipes get their kick from her special seasoning mixture, which she also sells to the public.

In addition to the comestibles, Gibson has gift items straight from Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, such as handmade ceramics and art from Gulfport, Miss., and small works of art and large mugs from New Orleans.

It’s difficult to spend any time in the shop with Gibson without getting caught up in her enthusiasm for all things New Orleans.

“I really have a passion for it and for sharing my culture with people. It’s the vision I have. That’s why I never gave up after Katrina,” she said.

GG’s to Geaux is at 34 Webb Street in Roswell. For information, call (678) 499-0511 or go to www.ggsfinefood.com.