Dauphin Island’s Gumbo Cook-off was today and that’s were we ate lunch. You can’t beat the price, only $10 in advance and you could order tickets online.  Lunch is all-you-can-eat as long as it’s available and you don’t mind standing in multiple lines for it. 

We tried almost all of them; almost all because some vendors ran out early. I was told the event was bigger than the planners expected.

Here is my description of the choices we sampled: a gumbo that was very soupy (the shrimp I had were mushy); a tomato-soupish gumbo with fish and rice (I didn’t get a shrimp in that sample); a gumbo that was more like shrimp and rice in butter sauce; a shrimp and rice gumbo with a perfect roux (my winning pick); one that was too spicy to eat; and a seafood mixture with a bland roux. Most were really good and there was definitely a variety. 

The winners will be in the paper tomorrow so I’ll wait until then to post my winning pick. I simply forgot the name of the vendor so I’ll have to look at the list.

Alton Brown was the guest for the event. He was to do a meet-and-greet around 3pm and then go have dinner with some VIPs (including my husband). We didn’t stick around. My oldest son is not a fan of gumbo so he held out for lunch on the way home: Chic-Fil-A.  My youngest was disappointed he couldn’t get to meet Alton Brown. He’s the food nerd in our house and a big fan of Mr. Brown.

Check out my husband’s article on the Gumbo Cook-off in the next issue of Alabama Coasting Magazine. 

The day was wonderful; sunshine, perfect temperatures, not too humid.  If you didn’t make it this year, I suggest you put it on your calendar for next year.