OctoBAR Fest Gumbo and Chili Cook-Off this weekend – American Press

Leave the lawyer jokes at home (unless they’re good jokes about or about good lawyers) and get ready to enjoy as delicious homemade chili and gumbo as a body can get for just $10.

On Saturday, October 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association Young Lawyers Section is hosting its annual Gumbo and Chili Cook-Off at Crying Eagle Brewing Company.

“We call it OctoBARfest,” said Meagan Johnson, who announced that all proceeds from the event go to the Holiday Helping Hands Program.

“Holiday Helping Hands provides Christmas gifts to families with a parent or parents who are having trouble providing gifts for their children,” Johnson said. “We work with local schools and someone there lets us know which families need help. We’ve been doing this for many years.”

Cooking team tents will be set up in Weeping Kartal Front parking lot where teams will distribute samples. Johnson said there were 12 teams last year. A $10 ticket is enough to taste each team’s dish.

According to Johnson, the competition is fierce and it’s anyone’s game. He’ll be on a team using his grandmother’s gumbo recipe.

“Her name was Lou Esther Hackberry and she lived in Hackberry,” Johnson said.

Kids will enjoy a bounce house and candy, and in addition to the raffle winner chosen by the panel of judges, a people’s choice winner will also be determined based on the amount of $1 tickets collected.