Good Eats for a Good Cause
United Way’s 8th Annual “Got Gumbo?” Cook-Off

United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area held its 8th Annual “Got Gumbo?” Cook-Off on January 18th at the Chateau Sonesta Hotel, sponsored by Chateau Sonesta, Latter & Blum Realty, and Shell Exploration & Production. 

New Orleans’ Top Culinary Talents were invited to show off their delicious recipes in a parade of gumbo.  Participants included:  Chefs Ronnie Luman and Mark Chapotel - Acme Oyster House; Chef Greg Rosary - Arnaud’s; Chef Rachel Marinovich - Black Velvet Oyster Bar & Grill; Chef Greg Daniels - Bourbon House; Chefs Lazone Randolph, Gerald Spears and JC Thompson - Brennan’s; Chefs Danny Trace, Juan Carlos Gonzalez and Thomas Finch - Café Adelaide; Chefs Troy Waugh and Deborah Abdin - Chateau Sonesta; Chef George Longoria - Desire Oyster Bar; Chefs Alfred Singleton and Alex Ventura - Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse; Chefs Tony McMaster and Jack Larson - The Diplomat Bar & Grill; Chefs Ben Thibodeaux and Dustin Wells - Palace Café; Chefs William McIntyre and George Kyame - Saltwater Grill; Chef Matt Brewton - The Savvy Gourmet; Chef Gregg Collier - Red Fish Grill; and individual entry Chef Raymond Signal.

The difficult task of judging went to the members of our “Krewe de Gumbo,” which included notable New Orleans Community Members and United Way Supporters: Shell VP and United Way Campaign Chair Frank Glaviano, Latter & Blum President Arthur Sterbcow, Chateau Sonesta GM Daneen Zeringue, WDSU’s Roop Raj, Louisiana Cookin’ Magazine’s Susan Ford, WWLAM's Monica Pierre, United Way’s Al Sassone .

And the winners were:
Best Traditional: Black Velvet Oyster Bar and Grill, 2nd place: Chateau Sonesta
Best Seafood: Red Fish Grill, 2nd Place: Diplomat Bar & Grill
Best Exotic: Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, 2nd Place: Café Adelaide

The crowd also participated in judging, bestowing the People’s Choice Awards on the following:
Gumbo: Red Fish Grill
Dessert: Chateau Sonesta
Float Decorations: Palace Café

The musical styling of The Matt Scoggin Trio were enjoyed throughout the evening as were King Cakes courtesy of Breaux Mart.  A raffle topped off the night with prizes that included gift certificates to Brennan’s Restaurant, Diplomat Bar & Grill, and Saltwater Grill, a one-year subscription to Louisiana Cooking Magazine, Philip Sage Artwork and a Weekend Package for Two at the Chateau Sonesta.

This year’s “Got Gumbo?” Cook-Off raised more than $11,000.  All Gumbo Proceeds benefit United Way’s “gumbo” of services in the New Orleans community.  United Way would like to thank all of the participating restaurants, judges and wonderful sponsors.