CCJN announces Red Beans & Rice Cook-Off with Torah Academy
The Crescent City Jewish News and Torah Academy have jointly announced the 1st Original Red Beans & Rice Cook-Off to be held on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. on the grounds of Torah Academy, 5210 West Esplanade Avenue in Metairie.
“The idea is part-fun, part fundraiser,” explained CCJN marketing director Arlene Wieder. Competitive teams can be formed from any synagogue, brotherhood, sisterhood, or community organization.
All ingredients will be cooked in crock pots under strict kosher supervision. Beans will be pre-soaked overnight and boiled for 10-15 minutes by organizing committee members to prevent the spread of a naturally occurring toxin. This toxin, phytohaemagglutinin (also known as kidney bean lectin), is killed when the beans are boiled for that period of time.
“We want this to be a very fun, competitive event, but safety is of the foremost in our minds,” Wieder continued. “We will not have open flames at Torah Academy for everyone’s protection. We want everyone to know that all food cooked in the crock pots will be delicious, but also safe to eat.”
Teams will pay an entry fee, which will entitle a number of team members to free food tickets. Participants will arrive at Torah Academy and have an opportunity to sample each team’s entry by purchasing food tickets.
Seventy-five percent of all funds raised go to benefit Torah Academy and the CCJN’s Jewish Endowment Foundation-administered Zachor “Remember” New Orleans Fund that seeks to digitize Jewish newspapers from the past.
More information can be found here.
