Record-breaking turnout at Big Boy’s Main Street Cook-Off as 36 teams compete and winners announced

Thibodaux Main Street, Inc. attracted a new record of participating teams during the 23rd annual Big Boy’s Main Street Cook-Off this past Saturday.

The event had 36 teams competing, drawing a significant level of attendance from local food-lovers. Tents filled with teams preparing their recipes lined the streets of downtown Thibodaux, featuring various pots of jambalaya, gumbo, étouffée and more.

The event coordinator, Danielle Stein, has been dedicated to organizing the Big Boy’s Main Street Cook-off for six years.  “We have a record this year of 36 teams cooking 38 dishes,” said Stein. “Two of our teams are cooking two dishes each. It is the most dishes the event has ever had.”

Among the local participants was Kristine Russell, the District Attorney for Lafourche Parish, who served a savory Bayou Sauce Piquante alongside Chad Hymel, the creator of the recipe. Hymel explained that the group developed this recipe quite some time ago, made iconic by its key ingredients: fish, shrimp, crab, a squeeze of lemon juice, and “a lot of love.”

Chris Ledet Homes led a team with their own handpicked recipe, the “White Butt Wrap.” Tommy Ledet, the creator of the recipe, described what inspired creating the wrap. “We like white beans. We like a smoked Boston butt. So we decided we’ll make a smoked Boston butt and white beans and put it on a wrap,” Ledet said. “We named it the White Butt Wrap.”

Thibodaux Main Street, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated drawing locals in and revitalizing the downtown area, with events like the Big Boy Main Street Cook-off raising money to sustain its mission.

“We really appreciate the support we have received,” continued Stein. “This is our 23rd year of doing this event. It has grown from a few guys cooking in the parking lot to 36 teams. We appreciate the support we continue to get leading into our 24th year, and we have already started thinking of ideas for our next event. We are always trying to find ways we can tweak the event to make it better for our teams and guests.”

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Big Boy’s Main Street Cook-Off:

SOUP AND GUMBO

• First: Bayou Yakamein – Team Fremin
• Second: Guyon’s Gumbo – Chabert Insurance
• Third: Fire Roasted Poblano Corn Chowder – Latter & Blum Canal & Main Realty

SAUCE PIQUANTE/ETOUFFEE

• First: Shrimp Stew – Entergy
• Second: Sauce Piquante – Kristine Russell, Lafourche Parish District Attorney
• Third: Chicken Sauce Piquante – Simmered & Sauced

JAMBALAYA/PASTALAYA

• First: Voodoo Jambalaya – Black Swan Solutions, LLC
• Second: Poppin’ Pastalaya – Black Iron & Busch Light
• Third: Alligator Pastalaya – G4 Services, LLC

VARIETY

• First: Boudin Chimichanga – Sunshine Quality Solutions, LLC
• Second: Korean BBQ Chicken Wings – Thibodaux F.O.P. Lodge #52
• Third: Shrimp Dip Eggrolls – Thibodaux Police Department

PEOPLE’S CHOICE – BigMc Patty Whack Smash Taco + Fry – Latter & Blum Canal & Main Realty
BEST OF SHOW – Boudin Chimichanga – Sunshine Quality Solutions, LLC

Photos provided by Thibodaux Main Street, Inc. For more information, please visit their Facebook page.