Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival Announces Pioneer Award Winner

BATON ROUGE, La (press release) –The 7th Annual Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival will be held at the EBRPL-Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806 on May 18 and 19 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The festival is family friendly and free to the public.

The festival is pleased to announce that this years’ Pioneer Award Winner is the New Ethel’s Snack Shack. The restaurant was founded sixty-nine years ago and taken over by Paulette Thomas in 2012. It is located at 1553 Fairchild Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70807 and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 4:30 pm. For more info please log on to www.facebook.com/p/The-New-Ethels-With-The-Perfect-Taste-100075911992270/.

Some of its most popular dishes are Red Beans and Rice, Smothered Turkey Neck with Corn Bread Dressing, Smothered Pig Tails with rice and gravy and Paulette’s Lasagna. These recipes, along with the rest of the menu, were handed to Paulette from her mother who cooked for her and her five brothers every night. The Pioneer Award presentation will take place on Saturday, May 18, at 4:50 p.m.

The Cooking Contest is open until Friday, May 10. Entry fees are $20.00 in advance and $30.00 for walkups, should slots remain available. Only ten entrants will be selected for each of the categories. They are Meats and Fish, Vegetables and Side Dishes, Breads and Desserts, Appetizers and Soups, Beverages and Ices. Criteria is Presentation, Taste, and the Story or History behind each entry. Contestants need to bring enough food for six people the day of their category judging. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each category. On Saturday, May18, the judging will be Meats and Fish, Vegetables and Side Dishes. On Sunday May 19 the judging is Breads and Desserts, Appetizers and Soups, Beverages and Ices. Culinary Institute of America and MasterChef alumna Chef Shanika and Larry Warren join returning judges Rita Rushing Jones and Ricky Griffin.

For more information please visit www.brsoulfoodfest.com or call 225-802-9681.

In addition to the Vendor’s Village and Food Court it also features non-stop entertainment that includes Gospel and Contemporary Christian music, Blues, Soul, R&B, Spoken Word, Motivational Rap, Country and Smooth Jazz. Some of the performers include local favorites SmokeHouse Porter and Miss Mamie, Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor, The Listening Room All-Stars, the Phoenix Rouge Dance Troupe and Vince Hutchinson and the Original Heavy Storm Band. Regional bands and performers include Double Trouble Zydeco, Krazy D and Katrina. Touring acts are Joe Tex II, Contemporary Worship from Atlanta and Lisa Harris’ Tina Turner Tribute from Los Angeles. For exact stage times and full line-up, along with VIP tickets please log on to the website.

The event is sponsored by Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room Museum Foundation, Visit Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Synergy Bank, Planned Parenthood and Cutting Edge CE Conference.