By the time this year’s Mardi Gras Mambo runners cross the finish line downtown on Saturday, the savory scent of Louisiana cooking and sounds of live music will fill the air.
As 225 Dine reports, starting at 6 a.m., about 40 teams will swarm Galvez Plaza for Red Stick Roux Rally, cooking up their versions of one of the state’s most beloved dishes. They’ll serve their gumbo to judges and hundreds of guests in hopes of being named the best.
The annual cook-off has grown tremendously since its debut at Tin Roof three years ago, when only five teams competed. This year’s event marks the first time the cook-off will be held downtown, and organizers expect attendance and participation to more than double compared to last year’s turnout of 18 teams and 1,000 guests.
The cook-off attracts attendees and teams from all over south Louisiana, with a mix of amateur chefs and pros competing, including Baton Rouge celebrity chef Jesse Romero. There are no restrictions on ingredients, so teams can get inventive. Last year’s winning dish was a shrimp and ham gumbo.
Roux Rally is expected to offer about 30 different types of gumbo this year, with about 245 total gallons made. While there is technically no fee to attend, organizers are asking for a $10 donation. The event opens at noon, with gumbo tasting to begin at 1 p.m. The Chee-Weez play from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the winners’ ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m.
All of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Youth Oasis, an emergency shelter for runaway, abandoned and homeless youth. The organization provided housing for 90 individuals and served 9,000 meals last year.
“Roux Rally is becoming our single most significant fundraiser. It’s grown from really nothing, to last year they raised over $10,000 for us,” says Youth Oasis Executive Director Rafael de Castro. “Without Roux Rally … I don’t know if we’d be able to continue our mission in Baton Rouge.”
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