Best Chefs of Louisiana benefits Children's Hospital

It’s known far and wide that chefs are a charitable group, and that fact was made loud and clear at the American Culinary Federation’s Best Chefs of Louisiana event, April 16. Generations Hall was packed with industry professionals and the public alike, sampling cuisine like Café Adelaide Chef Barbato’s seafood salad with lemon and parmesan short bread, Ye Olde College Inn Chef McGehee’s Boudin stuffed chicken breast  and 5 Fifty 5 Chef Quitney’s  Bananas Foster poboy with a scoop of ice cream.

“I need to take a picture of this to share on Facebook,” said Lauren Thom, owner of Fleurty Girl. “It was my favorite dessert of the whole event.”  

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding
Po Boy by Chef Mark Quitney.
Photo courtesy of Frank Stansbury.

Her Facebook status with the photo, “Bread Pudding po-boy. My favorite dessert at the American Culinary Federation’s ‘Best Chefs’ event tonight in NOLA was shared by 30 individuals, amassed 224 likes and 45 comments.

Event organizer Nina Camacho’s involvement stems from her industry connection as the National Events Director of Jazzmen Rice. She quickly realized that joining the industry’s trade associations was where she needed to be to help further the reputation and brand of her product.

 “Working with all these philanthropic chefs, restaurant owners and industry professionals to create a special event that benefits such a wonderful cause is truly rewarding,” said Camacho.


Event organizer Nina Camacho, Chefs Mark Quitney
and Paul Prudhomme, April 16.

Everyone was in great spirits given the specialty cocktails, one in an apple shaped sippy cup with a straw. Every step throughout the event offered one more bit of a chef’s specialty and also something just for the event.

Le Meritage Chef Farrell’s short ribs, Grill Room Chef Dzejak’s seared loin of Nimin Ranch lamb, St. Charles Hospital Chef Guillot’s crawfish enchiladas with tasso and crawfish cream sauce and Restaurant R’evolution Chef Lusk’s blue crab pho were hits of the event. K-Paul Louisiana Kitchen Chef Paul Prudhomme was roaming around the event and provided each guest with a signed copy of Kitchen Expedition.

Proceeds from the event benefited Children’s Hospital, the only full-service hospital in Louisiana exclusively for children.