The 32nd annual Eunice World Championship Crawfish Etouffeé Cook-off drew an estimated 2,000 people on Sunday.
The event features the cooking contest, live music, a playground, art and crafts and plenty of hometown people and visitors.
The Cook-off is sponsored and organized by the Eunice Chamber of Commerce.
Francine Hughes, chamber director, said, “It was wonderful. The weather was nice. There was plenty, plenty of booths. There was a lot of food. I think some of the vendors did OK. I think maybe the people were there but weren’t spending as much.”
Hughes thinks there were more people in attendance at this year’s Cook-off, but according to the arts and crafts vendors this year’s crowd was a bit thriftier.
The Cook-off started off as a city event and it was down to about 20 etouffeé-cooking booths when the chamber took the event over in 2012.
On Sunday, there were 41 booths cooking etouffeé for the contest.
One reason the revival is the 185-member chamber can bring more volunteers together to put the event on than the city could, she said.
The number of arts and crafts vendors has grown from a low of eight to 20 this year. The city had limited arts and crafts to handmade items.
“If is definitely coming back,” Hughes said of the Cook-off.
Hughes said the Cook-off acts as a networking and tourism event.
“Getting people to work together is just wonderful,” she said.
Brock Leger, chamber president, said, “I think it went really well. In my opinion it looks like ... a much bigger turnout than last year.”
Leger credits “really good volunteers on the board” and from the community for the Cook-off’s success.
Cook-off winners
Winners won first, second and third place in the cooking division and the showmanship/booth decoration division.
Showmanship/booth decoration, Clubs and Organization division:
Eunice Mardi Gras Association, first place; and
Eunice Career & Technical Education Center, second place.
Showmanship/booth decoration, Professional division:
Casual Catering, first place; and
BB Lunchbox, second place.
Showmanship/booth decoration, Amateur division:
Glassco, first place;
Mayor and his council, second place; and
Louisiana Beauty Academy, third place;
Cooking division, Professional category:
LAS Fire & Safety, first place; and
LakeView Park & Beach, second place.
Cooking division, Club/ Organization category:
Progressive Tractor, first place; and
JD Bank, second place.
Cooking division, Amateur category:
Phillip DeVillier, first place;
Patasa Cooking crew, second place; and
Charlie Rhodes, third place.
Winning the KEUN listening choice award was Eunice City Marshals.
(Not pictured for awards were Phillip DeVillier and Charlie Rhodes.)
