Slideshow

Houstonia's 3rd Annual Gumbo Smackdown

15 restaurants battled it out for best gumbo, but only two came out on top.

With Jasmine Fuller February 3, 2016

The Porch Executive Chef, Adam West

Photographer: John Tran

Gumbo Judges: Rita Suchma, Megha Tejpal, Bun B, Ben McPherson, Katharine Shilcutt, and event emcees Diane Caplan and Nicole Vogel

Photographer John Tran

Elizabeth Magee, Michael Preng

Photographer: John Tran

Brian Aidoo, Perry Johnson, Valerie Hancock, Emily Smith, Katy Schawe, Skyler Schawe

Photographer: John Tran

Tiffany Ho, Chris Farrokhnia, Nhi Farrokhnia, Daniel Ponstein, Linda Bien

Photographer: John Tran

Shawn Virene and the Brasserie 19 team

Photographer: John Tran

Randie Lom, Jared Owen, Sarah Lom posing with the 2016 Volvo XC90 from Momentum Volvo

Photographer: John Tran

Jamming with the Platinum Players

Photographer: John Tran

Eric and Allison Erdeljac

Photographer: John Tran

Antonio and Cassandra Zamoralez

Photographer: John Tran

Lacey Duncan, Matt Guzman, Maegan Clemens, Jeff Rassenfoss

Photographer: John Tran

Chef Paul Friedman of Peli Peli

Photographer: John Tran

Main Kitchen serving up samples of their winning gumbo

Photographer: John Tran

Xfinity booth

Photographer John Tran

Russell Simms, Veronica Jones, Judith Logsdon, Kimberly Crawford

Photographer: John Tran

Matthew Marget, Dustin Luse, Annie Janise, Victor Liu, Carmen Lopez, Erica Smith, Molly Mack, Sofia Nasr

Photographer: John Tran

Judges' Choice winner, Holley's Seafood

Photographer: John Tran

Bananas Foster Nachos from Freedom to Indulge Catering

Photographer: John Tran

Buying raffle tickets to support the Sunshine Kids Foundation

Photographer: John Tran

People's Choice winner, Main Kitchen

Photographer: John Tran

Tobin Gelbs, Brett Kingsley, Orli Roth, Matt Holub

Photographer John Tran

Hannah Holmes, Molly Mead

Photographer John Tran

Houston Winery owners Jon and Edie Ann Burger

Photographer John Tran

The scene at Gumbo Smackdown

Photographer John Tran

Raffle table, benefiting the Sunshine Kids Foundation

Photographer: John Tran

Mark Donaldson and his partner at SUNPRO Solar

Photographer: John Tran

Stacy Cashiola, Marie Butler

Photographer: John Tran

Shane Rasch, Lisa Such, Sophie Jones, Lauren Tilley, Matt Strickland, Madeleine Zofkie, Mike Rasch

Photographer: John Tran

Crowd enjoying themselves

Photographer: John Tran

Sara Vingiello, Joe Melugin

Photographer: John Tran

Entering to win a Volvo for a weekend!

Photographer John Tran

Ray and Linda Chavers, Donita and Gary Fleming

Photographer: John Tran

Competing chefs come to the stage to be recognized

Photographer: John Tran

Robin Boyette, Christie Fredieu, Kim and Chip Marosis

Photographer: John Tran

Krystal Sexton, Colleen Smith

Photographer John Tran

Treebeards' Booth

Photographer John Tran

Spencer Lane, Jelle Vandenbroucke, and Kevin Pope from Main Kitchen

Photographer: John Tran

Hadley and Scott Vogel

Photographer John Tran

Matt Corcoran, Brandon Schempp, Taylor Saxon

Photographer: John Tran

Megha Tejpal, Priyanka Bhandari, Michael Bins, Karishma Sabharwal

Photographer: John Tran

Jordan Brister, Michele Fox

Photographer John Tran

Ana Kulak, Westyn and Stevi Maytubby

Photographer: John Tran

Carlos Barrios, Marty Sexton, Lori Pinter, Jeramie Pinter, Sara Reynolds

Photographer: John Tran

Best Table Decor winner Lisa Carney of The Cajun Stop

Photographer: John Tran

Houstonia Publisher, Diane Caplan with the Platinum Players

Photographer: John Tran

WHAT: Houstonia's 3rd annual Gumbo Smackdown, presented by Momentum Volvo

WHERE: Houstonia House - January 30th, 2016

AMOUNT RAISED: Over $1,400 for the Sunshine Kids Foundation

WINNERS

People’s Choice: Main Kitchen
Judges’ Choice: Holley's Seafood
Best Table Decor: the Cajun Stop

EVENT SPONSORS: Xfinity, GinDesigns

TOP RAFFLE ITEMS: VIP Rockets Experience ($2,840 value), that included a weekend with a car from Momentum Porsche, tickets to a Rockets game of choice (donated by Samantha Boles of Automated Security Integrated Solutions) and an autographed James Harden and Dwight Howard basketball.

THE COMPETITION: Antone's Famous Po' Boys • Artisans • BB's • Bramble • Brasserie 19 • The Cajun Stop • Freedom to Indulge Catering • Holley's • Main Kitchen • My Fit Foods • The Porch • Peli Peli • Ruggles Black • Treebeards • The Union Kitchen

EVENT PARTNERS: Abita • Bayou Rum • Coco Crepes • Dr Pepper Snapple Group • PB & DJ Productions • PJ's Coffee • TX Whiskey • Winery / Water 2 Wine

Gumbo, Competition

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Houstonia's 3rd Annual Gumbo Smackdown

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