Wow – what a day! The turnout was huge this year for our 21st annual WMPG Cajun Cookin’ Challenge. More than 500 people attended the event and when all the votes were counted we had a winner! Congrats to Gritty McDuff’s as they took the honors and bragging rights this year. They served up a wonderful Catfish and Sausage Gumbo that impressed the voters.
Coming in second was 2015 Cajun Cookin’ Champs Bayside American Café, with a Andouille Sausage and Chicken Gumbo, served with Basil Scallion Cheddar Cornbread.
In the amateur division Inge and her daughter Rowan took the honors with their tasty assortment of King Cakes. We aren’t sure who got the baby but Inge let us know that each cake had one of the traditional surprises inside!
Each year we host this party on the University of Southern Maine campus where the southern Maine community along with USM students, faculty and staff gather to shake off a bit of the cold Maine winter for some spicy New Orleans styled food and music. Our friends at CTN5 television produced a wonderful video feature highlighting each of the food entries.
A huge thanks goes out to everyone who made it happen including Bayside Bowl, Congress Bar and Grill, Bayside American Cafe, Aramark /USM Dining, Silly’s, Po’ Boys & Pickles, Local Sprouts Cooperative, and Whole Foods.
We already can’t wait for the 2017 party!