Gumbo Cook-off Official Rules and Information

January 10, 2026

180 Henry ST, Cameron, LA

  

TIMELINE:

5:30AM         Contestants arrive and set up 

6:00AM         Cooking begins

11:00AM       Samples ready to be submitted to judges

11:50AM       Public is invited to purchase a bowl of rice to sample the gumbos

2:30PM         Winners announced

 

Cooking locations- All teams will be cooking on site; a tent will be provided for the event and spots are first come first served.

Cooking and ingredients- Cooks must supply their own ingredients, supplies, utensils to prepare and serve 20 people (minimum). Cooks may use their own recipes but must use the following meats from any division: seafood, chicken, or wild game. ALL FOOD PREPARATION MUST BE DONE ON SITE. You may want to bring your own water to cook with and your beverage of choice. A Champion will be selected for each division in one of the following categories:  File', Seafood, Poultry, & Wild Game. An Overall Champion will be selected from the three divisions.

 

Judging

Gumbo samples will be taken at 11 a.m.

You will be provided with a bowl for your sample. Your team/individual number will be written on the bowl. You will need to bring your bowl to the judging tent at your designated time written on the bowl. 

1)  Judges are local celebrities and cooks. They will not know the names of the teams of the bowls being served.

Clean up- Each entrant will be responsible for cleaning up his station. Trash cans will be available throughout the area.