Mary Tutwiler

Culinary Classic raises more than $30K for Stuller Place

by Mary Tutwiler

Fine food and a chance to raise money for a local non-profit were both on the menu at last night’s Culinary Classic. Stuller Place has been the beneficiary of the high-profile cooking competition for the past four years. Last year, Stuller Place received $30,000, and according to Classic organizer and chef/owner of Catahoula’s in Grand Coteau, Jude Tauzin, this year’s contest topped that sum.

Best of Show winner is chef Scott Vornadoe of V’s Catering and Events, from St. Francisville. His “The Last Hunt,” a stuffed quail dish, garnered the $10 thousand top prize. Cypress Bayou Casino’s chefs Scott McCue, Blake Payne, Laci Booth and Willie Gaspard cleaned up with a total of five gold medals in the soup, salad, bread, meat, and shellfish categories. Jeremy Conner from Catahoula’s claimed gold in the pork, lamb and wild game competition. Prejean’s Earnest Prejean won in fin fish. Opelousas General Health System’s Reynold Landry scooped up in the vegetable category, and pastry chef Keri Simon from the Petroleum Club got a sweet gold for her dessert.

For a complete list of the winners and winning dishes, click here.