Eastbank’s St. Jude jambalaya cook-off nears

Right around the corner is St. Gabriel area’s third annual Papa George Fairchild Jambalaya Cook-Off.

The event will be held Sunday, Oct. 4, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church grounds.

The project helps collect money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The first two years the event was held the St. Gabriel community managed to raise over $20,000 for children with cancer and their families.

The cookpoff is named after long time St. Gabriel resident George Fairchild, better known as “Papa George”, who was the first World Champion Jambalaya Cook from the 1968 Gonzales Jambalaya Festival.

Contestant cooks will be creating their chicken jambalaya dishes on wood fire just like Fairchild did in 1968.

The cooking will begin at 6 a.m. with the winner being announced around 2 p.m. Jambalaya will be solid at $5 a plate and will be served with white beans and bread. Dinner serving is expected to begin at 11 a.m.

Admission to the event is free and will include slides and horse rides as well as a Mini-Pot Jambalaya Cook-Off for kids. A $1 raffle will be held for a Homemade LSU quilt as well as for other donated items.

Entry fee for cooking contest participants will be $150, which includes gifts and a t-shirt for all entered. The first prize will be a crystal trophy with additional gift certificates and title.

Cooks must have samples ready by 10:30 a.m. Wood will be provided, but you can bright your own. Ingredients provided will be a 15-lb. hen, 5 lbs. of rice, 5 lbs. of onion, cooking oil, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic. Cooks must cut up their own onions and garlic. No additional ingredients will be allowed.

Ingredients will be available at 6 a.m. and breakfast will be provided to cooks and helpers. Cooks may bring pop-up tents.

For more information, contact Chairperson Theresa Roy at 642-9724, 939-6369, or 642-5545.

Cooks can make checks payable to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and must be mailed to T.Roy, P.O. Box 390, St. Gabriel, La. 70776.

The event is being sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 3796. The KCs are currently seeking volunteer helpers and donations. Contact Theresa Roy or Marcus Roy (603-6172).