By: Brittany Racca
A New Iberia tradition
Gumbo is a pièce de résistance in Southern Louisiana, so it’s no surprise the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff calls Iberia Parish home. Every year, on the second weekend in October, the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce hosts the cookoff in Bouligny Plaza on New Iberia’s historic and award winning Main Street. The 27th annual event will occur Oct. 8-9, 2016.
“You get it all with the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff—the best Cajun and Zydeco music, locals who love to chat with visitors, a wide variety of Cajun and Creole food on Saturday like crawfish étouffée, fried alligator sausage, charbroiled oysters, crab cakes, corn and crab bisque and, of course, the best gumbo in the world on Sunday,” said Janet Faulk-Gonzales, CEO of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce.
Saturday: Run for gumbo!
Saturday, the Roux Run (5K and 1-mile fun run) begins the day. The chefs mix and concoct “anything but gumbo” for attendees to sample. It’s a fantastic way to try Louisiana’s traditional dishes all in one convenient location! Local museums will hold tours during the day and downtown businesses will open for shopping with special deals only available during cookoff weekend.
There will be a youth gumbo cookoff Saturday as well, with tasting at 6 p.m.
Saturday’s musical lineup includes Geno Delafosse, Miles Flatt, Todd O'Neil, Chubbie Carrier and Jaime Bergeron.
Sunday: the Battle of the Rouxs
The “battle of the rouxs” kicks off bright and early on Sunday. The cooks stir and chop while support crews perform skits and participate in the booth decoration contest until when tasting starts. Winners are announced afterwards.
“For the 27th anniversary, visitors can expect more than 100 different gumbos prepared for their tasting, all set up in beautiful downtown New Iberia,” continued Faulk-Gonzales. “Attending the event is a great way to kick back and spend a relaxing weekend in October.”
For more information and the Gumbo Map, visit IberiaChamber.org/GumboMap
