17th Annual Smoked Meat Festival Cookoff winners announced during Saturday's festivities

The coveted trophy is presented to two grand champions each year.

Michael Bordelon

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The 17th Annual Le Festival de la Viande Boucanée, also known as the Smoked Meat Festival, had one of its biggest cooking contests, according to organizers. Before this year, the festival had a record of 43 teams, which was several years ago, and this year, 45 teams battled it out for the coveted smoke house awards.

Judges tasted 168 dishes to select Citizens Bank, Team 2, as amateur grand champion, and Bourque’s Supermarket of Port Barre as professional grand champion Saturday, June 27. This was the supermarket’s first year of competition.

Citizens Bank’s Team Two’s Westmoreland’s Speedy Express from the Smoked Poultry category was the winning amateur dish. Team members were Wayne Vidrine, head chef; Debbie Fontenot, Bonnie Meche,Stephan Mayeaux, JoAnn Bordelon and Kenny Frey.

Bourque’s Supermarket of Port Barre’s Smoked Boneless Chicken Stuffed with Green Onion Sausage from the Smoked Poultry category was the winning professional dish. Team members were Shannon Bourque, head chef; Dain Duplechain and Amy Duplechain.

Sharon Fontenot, cookery contest chairperson, said each team could have entered up to four dishes in the competition which would have totaled 180 dishes. She was pleased with the turnout and said the judges had some hard decisions to make. She thanked everyone who helped make this year’s cookoff and festival a success.

In this year’s competition, there were 27 amateur cooking teams and 18 professional cooking teams.

Best dressed team honors went to Cabot Corporation, first place; Ville Platte Medical Center, second place; and Evangeline Parish Farm Bureau, third place.

The best decorated booth honors went to Evangeline Bank and Trust Company, first place; Evangeline Aces, second place; and Citizens Bank, third place.

And a new award, The Spirit of Viande Boucanée, was given to a team that best exemplifies the true spirit of Le Festival de la Viande Boucanée. The first team to receive this honor was the Evangeline Parish Farm Bureau team.

Amateur Division
Sausage, Andouille,
Pounce Category
(7 dishes)
1st - Movie World’s Bonified Smoked Pounce - Team members were Clyde Johnson, head chef; Ebby Perrodin, Phillip Fontenot, Mike Fontenot, Pam Fontenot and Lorraine Perrodin.
2nd - Guaranty Bank’s Tioga’s Sausage Bread - Team members were Joff Fusilier, head chef; Josh Ortego, Susan Fontenot, Brad Launey and Tioga Vidrine.
3rd - Cleco’s Pasta Supreme - Team members were Barry Fontenot, head chef; Dwayne Brignac, Donald Marcantel and Nolan Ducote.

Tasso Category
(12 dishes)
1st - Pig Stand Bar-Be-Que Sauce’s Jambalaya Dinner - Team members were Ross Lafleur, head chef; Sam LaHaye and Chase Guillory.
2nd - Evangeline Ace’s Smokey Quesadillas - Team members were Bryan Vidrine, head chef; John Ellis Dupre, Kathryn Vidrine, Jason Fontenot and Troy Fontenot.
3rd - Evangeline Bank, Team One’s Mamma Mia’s Pizza - Team members were Dr. Jerry Veillon, head chef; Lacey Fontenot and Beth Jones.

Smoked Seafood Category
(22 dishes)
1st - Cedar Lodge Taxidermy’s Last Minute Snapper - Team members were Craig Lafleur, head chef; Joe Kidder, Kevin Miller and Ryan Fontenot.
2nd - Dupre, Carrier and Godchaux’s Darbonne Seafood Delight. Team members were Warren LaFleur, head chef; Andy Fontenot, Danny Darbonne and Joey Daire.
3rd - Rocky Rider’s Collision Center’s Crabby Snapper - Team members were Michael Brown, head chef; Kyle Myers, Ed Ramon and Dustin Fontenot.

Smoked Poultry Category
(19 dishes)
1st - Citizen Bank, Team Two’s Westmoreland’s Speedy Express - Team members were Wayne Vidrine, head chef; Debbie Fontenot, Bonnie Meche, Stephan Mayeaux, Jo Ann Bordelon and Kenny Frey.
2nd - Rocky Rider’s Collision’s Tex Mex BBQ by Ed - Team members were Michael Brown, head chef; Kyle Myers, Ed Ramon and Dustin Fontenot.
3rd - Cedar Lodge Taxidermy’s Sexy Chicken - Team members were Craig Lafleur, head chef; Joe Kidder, Kevin Miller and Ryan Fontenot.

Smoked Game Category
(17 dishes)
1st - Evangeline Bank and Trust’s Eric’s Strapless Deer - Team members were Eric Fontenot, head chef; Bryan Lafleur and Bill Brunet.
2nd - Evangeline Aces’ Bandit’s Road Kill - Team members were Bryan Vidrine, head chef; John Ellis Dupre, Kathryn Vidrine, Jason Fontenot and Troy Fontenot.
3rd - Guaranty Bank’s Buck Shots - Team members were Joff Fusilier, head chef; Josh Ortego, Susan Fontenot, Brad Launey and Tioga Vidrine.

Barbecue Category
(19 dishes)
1st - La. Air National Guard’s Armadillo Eggs - Team members were Andrew Guidry, head chef; Gary Musgrove, John Shelton and Paul Shultz.
2nd - First South Farm Credit ACA, Team A’s Boucanée Cochan - Team members were Gabe Soileau, head chef; Blynn Rozas, Waven Lafleur and Tiqua Manuel.
3rd - Cedar Lodge Taxidermy’s Notorious P.I.G. - Team members were Craig Lafleur, head chef; Joe Kidder, Kevin Miller and Ryan Fontenot.

Professional Division
Sausage, Andouille,
Pounce Category
(13 dishes)
1st - B&S Grocery’s Pappa Scottie’s Jambalaya - Team members were Scott Dupre, head chef; June Powell, Nick Fruge, Chad Vidrine, Ronda Willis and Michael Roberie.
2nd - Pig Stand Restaurant’s Margie’s Cajun/Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers - Team members were Barry Giglio, head chef; Katie Lemoine, Sandy Johnson, Molly Giglio and Jennifer Stelly.
3rd - Paul’s Meat Market, Team Two’s Pounce Pit Stop - Team members were Paul Fontenot and David Ortego, head chefs; Silas Fontenot and Nick Fontenot.

Tasso Category
(9 dishes)
1st - R-T-Go’s Food Lane’s Tasso Gateau. Team members were Nick Ortego, head chef; Mike Ortego, Coonie Ortego and Chris Ortego.
2nd - “Slap Ya Mama” Once’s Tim’s Tasso Surprise. - Team members were Tony Walker, head chef; Will Uithoven, Tim Fontenot and Bob Walker.
3rd - Big Mamou Cajun Beef Jerkey’s Beef Jerky in a Bacon Blanket - Team members were Damian Douget, head chef; Perry Bertrand, Mark Ardoin, Dwayne Dupre and “Giddy-Up” Poullard.

Smoked Seafood Category
(15 dishes)
1st - R-T-Go’s Food Lane’s Shrimp Surprise. Team members were Nick Ortego, head chef; Mike Ortego, Coonie Ortego and Chris Ortego.
2nd - 3D Kuntry Kitchen’s Bacon Wrapped Brochetti - Team members were Mary Ann Deville, head chef, Joseph Thomas, David Deville, Druscilla Thomas and Hazel Sam.
3rd - Bernard LeBas’s (state representative) Smokin’ Shrimp Pasta - Team members were Wendel Fontenot, head chef; Dana Fontenot, Charlotte LeBas and Bernard LeBas.

Smoked Poultry Category
(9 dishes)
1st - Bourque’s Supermarket of Port Barre’s Smoked Boneless Chicken Stuffed with Green Onion Sausage - Team members were Shannon Bourque, head chef; Dain Duplechain and Amy Duplechain.
2nd - Bernard LeBas’s (state representative) Canard Boureé Boucanée - Team members were Wendel Fontenot, head chef; Dana Fontenot, Charlotte LeBas and Bernard LeBas.
3rd - “Slap Ya Mama” Twice’s Mais T Connaes Pas - Team members were Jennifer Walker, head chef; Tommy Fontenot, Scott Soileau, Justin Lafleur and Lorena Dugas.

Smoked Game Category
(13 dishes)
1st - Weelo’s Grocery’s Duck on the Bayou Surprise. - Team members were Monica Fontenot, head chef; Phillip Fontenot, Travis Fontenot, Alex Fontenot, Paul Fontenot, Dirk Ortego and Winston Rider.
2nd - Paul’s Meat Market, Team One’s Sylas’ Deer Bombs - Team members were Paul Fontenot and David Ortego, head chefs; Tammy Fontenot and Mona Ortego.
3rd - “Slap Ya Mama” Once’s Elk Rollups - Team members were Tony Walker, head chef; Will Uithoven, Tim Fontenot and Bob Walker.

Barbecue Category
(13 dishes)
1st - Weelo’s Grocery’s Smoked Duck Nuggets - Team members were Monica Fontenot, head chef; Phillip Fontenot, Travis Fontenot, Alex Fontenot, Paul Fontenot, Dirk Ortego and Winston Rider.
2nd - Paul’s Meat Market, Team Two’s Rabbit of the Sea. - Team members were Paul Fontenot and David Ortego, head chefs; Silas Fontenot and Nick Fontenot.
3rd - Bourque’s Supermarket of Port Barre’s Smoked Pork Chops Stuffed Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage - Team members were Shannon Bourque, head chef; Dain Duplechain and Amy Duplechain.

Photos of the festival's opening ceremony and other random scenes can be found in our photo gallery section.