Cook-Off for the Coast Serves Up Good Time, Raises Awareness and Funds for Louisiana’s Vanishing Coast
The fifth annual Cook-Off for the Coast returned to Docville Farm in St. Bernard Parish on Saturday, welcoming hundreds of visitors and raising over $12,000 for coastal restoration projects.
Presented by Restore the Mississippi River Delta in partnership with Vanishing Paradise and the Meraux Foundation, the event is designed to raise awareness about coastal restoration by celebrating the bounty of southeast Louisiana.
Twelve cook teams prepared dishes featuring wild game found in Louisiana’s coastal wetlands, including shrimp, duck, rabbit, raccoon, alligator, and more. A panel of judges rated the entries on taste, originality, and presentation, selecting the follow winners in each category:
Swim Category: Center for Human-Environmental Research’s Crawfish and Blue Crab Bunny Chow (Vindaloo)
Crawl Category: Team Pomes’ Rabbit Stew
Fly Category: Wheats Custom Calls’ Wild Duck Andouille Gumbo with Duck Egg Potato Salad
Student Category: The Chalmette High Owls’ Shrimp Remoulade with Fried Okra and Corn Maque Choux
Crowd Favorite: Mudda Roux’s Curry Pumpkin Corn Bisque with Crawfish and Andouille
“Once again the Cook-Off showcased the abundance of our coast, our unique culture, and our delicious cuisine - all of which are challenged by coastal land loss," said Rita Gue, president of the Meraux Foundation. “It was a good time for a good cause, and we thank everyone who helped make it such a success.”
In addition to the Cook-Off contest, some of the New Orleans area's favorite chefs, including Isaac Toups, demonstrated wild game recipes, provided free tastings, and answered questions from the crowd.
Entertainment was provided by Michot Melody Makers, an electric string band that pushes the boundaries of Cajun traditional music. Libations and specialty cocktails were served up by local favorite, Pirogue’s Whiskey Bayou. Additionally, a host of local organizations were on hand to let the community know how they can get involved in coastal restoration efforts and to provide kid-friendly activities.
“Restoring the Mississippi River Delta and the Gulf Coast is a priority for sportsmen all across the country,” said Matthew Waguespack with Vanishing Paradise. “Cook-Off for the Coast highlights the plentiful resources of our Sportsmen’s Paradise while also educating on the critical conservation and restoration we need to do to ensure it’s here for future generations to enjoy as we have.”
All proceeds from the fifth annual Cook-Off for the Coast benefit the Chandeleur Sound Living Shoreline Program, a partnership with Chalmette High School, Nunez Community College, the Meraux Foundation, and Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program.
"Connecting to our coastal communities is at the heart of our work, so we are proud to once again be a part of the Cook-Off for the Coast,” said Simone Maloz, campaign director for Restore the Mississippi River Delta. “This premier event, which has raised over $40,500 for local coastal restoration projects since its inception, provides a wonderful way to enjoy our coastal communities and culture, while also sharing what opportunities lie ahead.”
Support for this year’s event came from the St. Bernard Parish Coastal Division, St. Bernard Parish Tourism, Chefs Brigade and Nunez Community College, and our sponsors that keep this event free: Clements Insurance, Clements Physical Therapy, St Bernard Wetlands Foundation, ABC Title, Joey Nieto Edward Jones, St Bernard Tourist Commission, Knights of Nemesis, Team Pomes, Jean Lansou Construction & HVAC, Republic Services, Bienville Capital, Boasso Construction, Common Ground Relief, Delacroix Corporation, ELOS engineering, The Great Delta Tours, Beau’s Feed & Pets, Jaylynn Bergeron Turner Assessor, WWNO, St Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann and NOLA Woodworks.
For more information, visit coastcookoff.com.
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About Restore the Mississippi River Delta
Restore the Mississippi River Delta is working to secure a just, climate-resilient coast where people and nature thrive. As our region faces the crisis of land loss and climate change, we seek to advance an equitable, safer and flourishing coast for Louisiana’s communities, ecosystems and economy. Composed of conservation, policy, science and outreach experts from Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Pontchartrain Conservancy, we are located in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; and around the United States. Learn more at MississippiRiverDelta.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation:
The Meraux Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established by Arlene Meraux to benefit the community of St. Bernard Parish by leveraging its landholdings. Today, the Foundation’s board of directors is presided over by Arlene’s niece, Rita Gue, and members Floyd Gue, Bill Haines, Chris Haines, and Sidney Torres, III. Guided by Arlene’s vision, the Board is implementing an innovative strategy to create lasting change and build a better St. Bernard.
Vanishing Paradise
Vanishing Paradise is a program launched in 2009 by the National Wildlife Federation and Ducks Unlimited to advocate for restoration of the Mississippi River Delta. From meeting with legislators to connecting outdoor industry leaders to the conservation movement, we're educating on the issue of coastal restoration in duck blinds, out on the water and in D.C. — and everywhere in between.