Who makes the best gumbo?

A Louisiana-style gumbo cook-off will be held this weekend to raise money for students going to the African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference.

The Gumbo and Good Times event will be at Landfall Restaurant on Saturday from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.

Five chefs will compete to be Bermuda’s king or queen of Louisiana gumbo.

There will also be entertainment provided by Fiana Wilson, Bim Bademosi, Hiram Edwards and friends as well as DJ Humpty.

Dawn Simmons, one of the organisers, said the proceeds will go towards the ADHT youth development fund to sponsor students to attend the 9th International ADHT Conference in Lafayette, Louisiana from October 9 to 12.

Gumbo was selected as the cook-off dish is because the conference is in Louisiana. Every year the dish will change based on the location of the conference.

“We’ve invited five chefs to compete and because the conference is in Louisiana, we chose gumbo.

“The chefs are Alfie Eve, Omari Esdaille, LeeAnn Medeiros, the only female, Odinga Hodgson and Colin Lloyd.

“They will be creating gumbo and making a vegetarian version as well for those who don’t eat meat.”

Ms Simmons credited Maxine Esdaille, the chair of ADHT, for the idea of using a cook-off to raise funds.

Ms Simmons said: “We have a youth development programme and we want to send students to the event. CedarBridge Academy is sending students as well. The funds raised will help the students.”

She continued: “Every year a country that is apart of the ADHT will host a conference where people will come from around the world.”

Bermuda has already been selected to host the event in 2015.

Ms Simmons said: “The ADHT promotes international cultural tourism and promotes a social conscience. That’s why we all come together.”

Exciting

Speaking about the cook-off, she said: “It’s going to be exciting to actually see the chefs create the food and to taste what the chefs make.

“There will be a people’s choice award as well as an award from the three judges.”

Tickets for Saturday’s cook-off are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

They can be bought from 27th Century Boutique or by e-mailing Ms Esdaille at [email protected]

For more information, visit www.adht.bm. n