The aroma of simmering jambalaya filled downtown Minden last Saturday as cooks and crowds gathered for the annual Jambin’ on Main Jambalaya Cookoff, held in the alley beside the Drake Building.
Sponsored by Orleans On Main Bistro, the event featured a full lineup of local teams competing for cash prizes, plaques, and bragging rights as the parish’s best jambalaya cooks.
First place went to Team F.O.C, made up of Tommy Sumner and Justin Smart, who took home a $1,000 cash prize, an engraved cook pot, and a commemorative plaque. Second place was awarded to Pot Stirrer, with Ben Gorman and Sha Smith winning $300 and a plaque. Third place went to Ponderosa Pot Stirrers, the team of Randy Stevenson and Hays Brown, who received $200 and a plaque.
The People’s Choice Award also went to Ponderosa Pot Stirrers, who earned an engraved stainless jambalaya paddle and $200 in gift cards from Orleans On Main Bistro, Roma Italian Bistro, Shug’s Ice Cream, and Under Dawgs Sports Grill.
A raffle drawing rounded out the day’s festivities. Wyatt Carson was the winner of a Turtlebox donated by Ace Hardware and a cook pot and cooker donated by A.J. Price.
Along with Orleans On Main Bistro as title sponsor, additional support came from the Minden Historic District, A.J. Price, Roma Italian Bistro, Red Wolf Media, Minden Family Dental, Main Street America, Louisiana Main Street, Ace Hardware, Under Dawgs, Pork & Fork BBQ, The Venue on Pearl, Webster Parish Tourism, Shug’s, and Integrity Homes.
Organizers said this year’s event drew strong participation and enthusiastic crowds, marking another successful year for the downtown cookoff.
