SHREVEPORT, La. — Five local chefs will join North Carolina pitmaster Lewis “Sweet Lew” Donald for a barbecue event during Prize Fest, part of a Food Prize lineup that pairs Shreveport-Bossier culinary talent with chefs from across the country.
The Celebrity Chef BBQ is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Prize Island, 700 Texas St. Donald, owner of Sweet Lew’s BBQ in Charlotte and founder of the Carolina BBQ Festival, will prepare three meats. Local chefs Niema DiGrazia, Stu Dyson, Kelsie Mayeaux, Cindy Johnson and Melvin Nelson Jr. will each create a side dish.
Tickets are $55 and include the barbecue, sides, dessert, beer and nonalcoholic beverages. The Prize Foundation said tickets are limited.
Food Prize begins Wednesday, Oct. 14, with Come & Get It, a tasting event at the Remington Suite Hotel. Six local chefs will each collaborate with a visiting chef on an original dish, while five local mixologists will prepare cocktails and mocktails. Guests will vote on their favorites, and the top three local chefs will advance to the Battle of the Golden Fork on Saturday, Oct. 17.
The local chefs participating in Come & Get It are Jasmine Cherry of The Noble Savage; Chelsea Girard of Fat Calf Brasserie; Jacob Mouser of The Chop Shop; Lalo de los Santos of El Cabo Verde; Darrielle Stephens of BPCC Culinary Arts; and Sanela Tomic of Bella Fresca and Sauvage.
Come & Get It runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $300 and include the tastings, beverages, dessert and valet parking.
Prize Fest runs Oct. 14–18 in downtown Shreveport, with film, food, music and comedy events. Tickets and the full schedule are available at prizefest.com.