Move over John Besh. Step aside Susan Spicer. Lafayette's rising star chef Holly Goetting, Charley G's, will be cooking side by side with the supernovas of the New Orleans constellation of chefs at a fundraiser benefiting the James Beard Foundation. Chefs for Louisiana Cookery will be held at Kingsley House in New Orleans, on Sunday, March 21. The state's most celebrated chefs have teamed up with each other and local farmers and fishermen to create a menu that is a testament to the ingredients native to Louisiana. Oysters, strawberries, crabmeat, shrimp, sweet potatoes, French bread, hot sauce, Cajun caviar and rice are just a few of the ingredients that will take main stage with chefs including Donald Link, Chuck Subra (a New Iberia native) and Frank Brigsten.
The Chefs for Louisiana Cookery event is in part a celebration of the announcement for nominees of the 2010 James Beard Awards, which will occur in New Orleans on March 22, 2010. The James Beard awards are the culinary industry's equivalent to the Oscars and are celebrated in May in New York City. Tickets in advance are $100 for regular admission and $150 for VIP ($75 and $125 for members of the James Beard Foundation). Tickets are available here.