Red Beans and Rice Cook-Off today at Torah Academy

Who will be the big winner today? The answer will be made known by the time that the 1st Original Red Beans & Rice Cook-Off gets underway today at 12 noon at Torah Academy, 5210 West Esplanade Avenue in Metairie.

Six teams’ recipes will be vying for the honor of Grand Prize winner at today’s competition. The first two teams represent the ladies of the Greater New Orleans Chapter of Hadassah and the Greater New Orleans Section of the National Council of Jewish Women. Other teams from the Kosher Cajun Delicatessen and New York Grocery and Congregation Anshe Sfard will vie for top honors against ones composed of Torah Academy Alumni and a group from the Crescent City Jewish News.

The lone vegetarian entrant will be from Kosher Cajun.

Judging between teams begins an hour before at 11:00 at which the three judges will determine who will be the grand prize winner of the 2015 competition. The winner’s recipe will be the featured recipe at the 2nd Original Red Beans & Rice Cook-Off to be held next Labor Day, September 5, 2016.

Celebrity judges are three well known female singers, all of whom have considerable experience in the kitchen. “Soul Queen of New Orleans” Irma Thomas, multi-talented performer Valerie Sassyfras and Cristina Perez, a Victory Belle and featured performer at the National World War II Museum, will determine the winner prior to the opening of the gates at noon.

This year’s featured recipe is from the late Mildred Covert and Sylvia Gerson as found in their Kosher Creole Cookbook. Covert’s grandson, Adam Stross, is cooking the featured beans recipe using a conventional method. Covert’s daughter-in-law, Cecile Casey Covert, designed the costume for Macky Bean©, the colorful mascot of the event, who will put in an appearance during the judging and later for the kids.

Plates of the featured recipe will sell for $10 each with family packs of three meals available for $20.00. Sample tastings from each team will be available for a reduced rate as long as supplies last.