Red Beans ‘n Rice Cook-Off a Recipe for Success

United Way serving St. Tammany's Annual Red Beans 'n Rice Cook-Off was twice the success this year, as the parish held two separate cook-offs, one in the East and one in the West. For six years, Fire District 1 has hosted a Red Beans ‘n Rice Cook-Off on the east side of the parish. This year, Fire District 4 in Mandeville and Fire District 12 in Covington decided to get in on the action. The events jump started the parish's 2010-2011 Campaign Season. For only $8 a person, attendees enjoyed all the red beans and rice they could eat and much more.

The sixth annual East St. Tammany Cook-Off was held on Monday, August 2nd at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in Slidell. The event’s traditional venue, the Slidell Municipal Auditorium, is being torn down to make room for a new $6.9 million facility.

“We’re pleased. The turnout this year is comparable to years past, and we’re grateful to First United Methodist for the use of their facilities,” said Chris Kaufmann, chairman of the East St. Tammany event.

Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan and his wife, Slidell’s First Lady Cecelia Drennan, were among the guests in attendance. Drennan congratulated Kaufmann and United Way on a successful event. “It brings out a lot of people, and it’s a lot of fun,” he said.

Celebrity judges for the Eastern event included Laura Buctel, WWL; Dawn Brown, Fox 8; Todd Schaffer, Local Chef; Lionel Hicks, City Councilman; Gene Bellisario, Parish Councilman; Mary Dubuisson, Slidell Art Center; Kim Bergeron, City of Slidell; and Robyn Kline, Iberia Bank. Three-time Pro Bowler and former tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions Rodney Holman served as honorary chairman.

The first ever West St. Tammany Cook-Off was held on Monday, August 9th at St. Timothy’s United Methodist Church in Mandeville.

United Way Leadership Council representative Don LaGarde said he was pleased that the addition of a western St. Tammany-based competition offered great potential to raise money and awareness for the United Way. “I’m not very good at cooking red beans, but I am very good at eating them,” he said.

Celebrity judges were Don Villere, Mayor of Mandeville; Jerry Coogan, Mandeville City Council; Bill Dobson, Pres. Mandeville Seafood Festival; Pat Brister, E.D. Northshore Business Council, Pete Kusiw, Local Chef; and Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney, owners of Corks & Canvas in Mandeville. State Senator Jack Donahue served as honorary chairman.

Both events raised $15,624 with over 37 teams competing and more than 700 people attending.  

At the East Cook-Off, five of United Way serving St. Tammany’s agencies were awarded $14,180 in Capital Improvement Mini Grants from the proceeds from last year’s Cook-Offs and the Glitz, Glamour & Giving Gala. 

WINNERS
In the East:
Best Beans:
First Place – Slidell Police Association
Second Place – Slidell Police Department
Third Place – Slidell Memorial Hospital
People’s Choice (Most money raised) – Calamari Clan
Best Decorated Booth:
First Place – Dan & Sam’s Cleaning Service
Honorable Mention – Glitz, Glamour & Giving Committee

In the West:
Best Beans:
First Place – Fire District #9 (Bush)
Second Place – Winn Dixie
Third Place – Fire District #4
People’s Choice (Most money raised) – St. Tammany Parish Hospital
Best Decorated Booth:
First Place – Habitat for Humanity West St. Tammany 
Honorable Mention – Whitney Bank

Photo Captions:

Former Pro Bowler and NFL Player Rodney Holman recognized as Honorary Chairman of Cook-Off in the East.

The Slidell Police Association took home first place honors at the East St. Tammany Cook-Off

Fire District #9 celebrates their Western Cook-Off win.