The 24th annual Sandestin Gumbo Festival drew a record crowd of more than 2,000 people to the Village of Baytowne Wharf Saturday, according to the festival’s organizers.
Lanier Motes, special events manager for The Village of Baytowne Wharf said,”Many Gulf Coast restaurants serve up their best gumbo, hoping to take home the ‘Area’s Best’ and ‘People’s Choice’ awards.The Gumbo Festival is one of our longest running and most enjoyable food events.”
It was a cool day, the sun was shining, and the crowds were eager to sample gumbo from the 18 participating teams while enjoying live music from the Waylon Thibodeaux Band, and I was happy to be on hand tasting all of the entries as a judge.
Drinks were flowing from the eateries in Baytowne with patrons dancing in the streets, while children had fun on the merry-go-round, climbed the ropes course, and zip lined across the lake.
Local restaurants and chefs cooked-off with teams from 98 Bar-B-Que, Marlin Grill, Pompano Joe’s, Elephant Walk,WaterColor Inn & Resort and Poppy’s to name a few. YP (Young Professionals) at the Beach also participated, as did the Baytowne Floating Society, a group of Sandestin homeowners who arrived at 5:30 am to prepare their festive tent and 60-gallon pot of gumbo.
Pompano Joe’s held onto their title, winning “People’s Choice – First Place” for the second year. Soundside at Hurlburt Field took home “People’s Choice – Second Place,” while the gregarious Baytowne Floating Society rounded out the top-three winning “People’s Choice – Third Place.”
After sampling each participant’s gumbo in a blind taste test, the panel of judges decided the “Area’s Best” in three categories — veterans, five or more years and first-time participants.
Pompano Joe’s took first place in the veteran category, 98 Bar-B-Que won second, while Tops’l Beach and Racquet Resort won third place.
Winning first place in the five or more year’s category was Marina Bar and Grille.
Soundside at Hurlburt Field won first place in the first-time participant’s category, Baytowne Floating Society won second, and 790 on the Gulf grabbed third.
The winner in the “Best Display” category was a tie between Marina Bar and Grille and Buster’s Bar and Grill.
If wanting a little history on gumbo with a seafood gumbo recipe to cook at home click here. For chicken & sausage gumbo click here.
