7th Annual Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival Announced Pioneer Award Recipient

BATON ROUGE, La. - April 16, 2024 - PRLog -- The 7th Annual Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival will be held at the EBRPL-Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 on May 18 and 19 from 11am to 8pm. The festival is family friendly and free to the public.

This years' Pioneer Award honoree 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 4:30pm.

Popular dishes are Red Beans and Rice, Smothered Turkey Necks 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 down from her mother who cooked every night for eight people. The Pioneer Award presentation will take place on Saturday, May 18 at 4:50pm.

The Cooking Contest is open until Friday, May 10. Entry fees are $20.00 in advance and $30.00 for walkups, if available. Ten entrants will be selected for each of the categories. 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. On Saturday, May18 judging is 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 https://www.brsoulfoodfest.com or call 225-802-9681.

In addition to the Vendor's Village and Food Court the festival 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.