Donald Alexander took a six year break from the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff, but eventually made his way back to the competition this year only to win first place in the professional seafood category.

A Louisiana native, Alexander said he has spent the past several years in Texas, but made the trip to New Iberia to compete in the cookoff once again. The excitement was palpable when Alexander’s name was called out in the Steamboat Warehouse Pavilion during the awards ceremony Sunday.

“What’s your Cajun connection?” emcee Ray Escuriex asked Alexander after he was awarded first place. “How’d you learn to cook like that?”

“I’m from Louisiana! I just moved away,” Alexander responded with a laugh.

First place wasn’t the only win for D&L Cajun Kitchen. Alexander and his team of five also took second place in the professional chicken and and sausage gumbo competition.

There were plenty of other awards and high quality gumbo at the event, however. First place professional non-seafood category went to Big T & Sandy D, a team comprised of gumbo cookoff veterans who were elated after their names were called out at the 3:30 p.m. awards ceremony.

What was the secret to their success?

“A lot of Savoie’s sausage,” chef Steven Devillier said after he got his award.

Among the other winners was Leaning Oak Farms, which won first place in the youth gumbo cookoff competition. Envie Catering took second place and Southern Harmony Cafe garnered third place.

For Saturday’s Meanest Beans competition, Big D’s Cooking Team took the first place prize, followed by Compass Minerals and Jeff’s Upholstery.

Before the ceremony, the Gumbo Cookoff was out in full force with music, food and plenty of entertainment for all ages. Serving began at 11 a.m. and continued well into the afternoon.

Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Janet Faulk-Gonzales thanked all of those who attended, as well as the teams and volunteers who made the cookoff happened this year. The Chamber sponsors the cookoff.

About 75 teams competed this year in professional and non-professional categories including seafood, non-seafood and melange.

Results

Here are the results from the 29th Annual World Championship Gumbo Cookoff Sunday in New Iberia.

Professional Seafood

  1. D&L Cajun Kitchen

  2. Little River Inn

  3. Team Tabasco

 

Professional Non-seafood

  1. Big T & Sandy D

  2. D&L Cajun Kitchen

  3. Beausoleil 

 

Amateur Melange

  1. New Iberia Kiwanis Club

  2. All Coast Supply

  3. Loveworks

 

Amateur Seafood

  1. Josh Guillory for Congress

  2. CenterPoint

  3. Super 1 Foods 

 

Youth Gumbo Cookoff

  1st place — Leaning Oak Farms

  2nd place — Envie Catering

  3rd place — Southern Harmony Cafe

 

Meanest Beans

  1st place — Big D’s Cooking Team

  2nd place — Compass Minerals

  3rd place — Jeff’s Upholstery

 

Fan Favorite

  Iberia Medical Center