2025 Battle For The Paddle, Cooking Team Registration

Can you cook the best Jambalaya, Pastalaya or Gumbo around?

Well come on out and put your reputation to the test.

Be a part of one of the largest cooking competitions in south Louisiana!!

Event Advertising / Sponsorships are availible, see below for details!!

WHEN: Thursday, October 2nd,2025

WHERE: Edward A. Dufresne Community Center

274 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway

Luling, Louisiana

• Open to the Public:

Everyone and anyone can register a cooking team and everyone is invited to attend.

• Team Registration Fee:

Early registration fee is $175.00 per team.

Each paid Team registration is provided 4 entry bracelets. Additional bracelets can be purchased.

Registration fee will increase to $200.00 per team, on Sept, 19, 2025

“Big Pot Sponsor” $1,500 and above

· Company Logo displayed on stage banner

· Company Name announced on stage at event

· 2-Personalized Social Media Recognition Posts

“Little Pot Sponsor” $500 to $1,500

· Company Name displayed on banner with other sponsors

· Company Name announced on stage at event

· “Group Thank You” post on social media

“In-Kind Sponsor” $2,500 and above

· Company Logo displayed on stage banner

· Company Name announced on stage at event

· “Group Thank You” post on social media

“In-Kind Sponsor” $500 to $2,500

· Company name displayed on banner with other sponsors

· Company Name announced on stage at event

· “Group Thank You” post on social media

1 to 2 teams will be provided a 10' wide x 20' deep cooking area.

3 to 4 teams will be provided a 20' wide x 20' deep cooking area.

5 or more teams will be provided a 30' wide x up to 30' deep cooking area.

Additional cooking space can be purchased to accommodate larger tent sizes.

• Due to space limitations cooking trailers will not fit within the layout and cannot be accommodated within your assigned cooking area. Thanks for your understanding.

• Featuring Live Music 5:30PM (DJ music while cooking and prior to the band)

This is a fun, family event that invites family, business, and industry teams from across the region to compete for the titles of Best Jambalaya, Gumbo and Pastalaya!!!

AWARD INFORMATION

• 1st place teams for each category will take home the large prize paddle for 1 year and will receive free entry into the following year’s event.

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams for each category within the Judge’s Division and People’s Choice will receive a prize paddle.

COOK-OFF RULES

• Teams must register and pay by the end of the early registration date to receive their souvenir gifts.

• Double pots are permitted: one pot for judging and one pot for extra food, if desired. The judging pots must be a minimum of ten (10) gallons. Teams shall provide their own water for cooking purposes.

• Meats are limited to a combination of beef, chicken, turkey, pork and sausage only (any or all). All meats must be boneless. No wild game or seafood.

• For the Gumbo Division, rice needs to be included for serving to the public; but will not be sent to the judges. Rice can be pre-cooked prior to the event.

• All cooking must take place at the Judge Edward Dufresne Community Center in Luling on the day of the event.

• There will be no pre-cooking of the ingredients, including roux. Exception is smoked meat and gumbo rice.

• Meat can be seasoned ahead of time.

• Cooking of entry dish cannot be started until 10:00AM, or when announced. Cooking of extra items or side dishes can be started at any point.

• Judging will begin as early as 3:00PM. An exact time for delivery to the judges will be given to each team that day.

• Serving can begin at 3:00 PM when the gates open to the public. Bowls, spoons and napkins will be provided.

• Participants must provide all cooking and cleaning supplies, serving utensils, tents, tables, chairs, fire extinguishers, etc., just as if you were tailgating.

• Water, soft drinks and beer will be available for purchase after 3:00 PM. Participants should plan to provide their own beverages for their team members prior to 3:00 PM. (No glass bottles allowed)

• Each paid registration will receive 4 entry bracelets. If you choose to have more than 4 people help with cooking they must pay for additional entry/gate fees. You have the option to purchase more bracelets during team registration.

• In order to accommodate latecomers to our event, please do not package up food prior to 7:30 pm. If you desire to begin clean up early, package your food in disposable aluminum pans (provided by you). Taking packaged food from the event site prior to the end of the event is strongly discouraged.

• To ensure the safety of all participants and guests, vehicles will be NOT permitted to enter or exit the set-up area until the on duty deputies determine safe passage. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• A note to elected officials and candidates for public office: United Way of St Charles and this event are apolitical. As such, we ask that you do not distribute any promotional items to the public.

EVENT TIMELINE

Setup - 6:00 am – 10:00 am

Contestants Begin Cooking - 10:00 am

Gates open to Public - 3:00 pm

Judges Arrive - 3:00 pm

Judging Occurs - 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Serving to the public begins - 3:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Live Music Begins- 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

People’s Choice voting ends - 6:30 pm

Ceremony / Award Prizes/ People Choice - 7:30 pm

Event ends after awards are given out - 7:30 pm

Clean Up - 7:30 pm - until

AWARD INFORMATION

1st place teams for each division will take home a large prize paddle for 1 year and free entry into the following year's event

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each division, including People's Choice, will receive a prize paddle commemorating their placement.

Also check out other Music events in Luling, Entertainment events in Luling.