I can already smell it. The smell of fresh gourmet gumbo and lots of it. Chicken, sausage and seafood … yum, yum.

I am very excited for this year’s gumbo cook-off as I have the honor this year of being a judge. I am not taking the opportunity lightly. I know this is a huge responsibility and as a gumbo connoisseur of sorts I am definitely up for the job.

When I lived here 17 years ago I never dreamed I would someday be a judge at the gumbo cook-off — and I still have not had that dream.

However, that does not mean I am not enthusiastically excited about it. If it’s one thing that New Iberians are good at its cooking and gumbo is always or usually on the menu.

My wife, Esmeralda, makes a good gumbo from time to time for special occasions and I have to say she has gotten pretty good at perfecting the roux and seasoning it perfectly.

So it will be fun when I am judging gumbo this weekend to see how hers compares to the best that New Iberia has to offer.

With that being said, I will diligently do my duty to have an open mind and taste all the gumbos to the best of my ability. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it and I will be as fair and balanced as I can be.

Seriously though, I am totally honored to be part of this great event as a judge and I wouldn’t trade this opportunity for anything.

KEN HARTY is the Publisher of The Daily Iberian and Acadiana Lifestyle. You can reach him at kenh@daily-iberian.com