Right in front of the Denham Springs Antique District’s Railroad Station, Sports Talk 225 held their 1st annual Battle for the Paddle cast iron cookoff in an effort to “fuel the field” by curbing student athlete hunger across the parish. From 9 AM to 3 PM on August 1st, attendees were invited to purchase a $25 all-you-can-eat wristband, sample some of the finest southern cooking offered from over 16 competing teams, and shop in style at the many vendor stalls set up around the parking lot.
The teams each brought their own unique recipes to the cookoff, with most participating in the classic category involving chicken, beef, pork, or seafood. Only two teams participated in the wild game category, one of which being John Cavalier and his wildly popular green tomato snapping turtle tacos. From butter beans to pastalaya, and several iterations of green beans in-between, there was something cooking for everyone to enjoy.
The proceeds from the event will go towards funding Carter’s Supermarket vouchers for student athletes in need throughout all 8 high schools across the parish.
“The whole thing is just about giving back to the student athletes that, at the end of the day, entertain us,” Stu Puffer, founder of Sports Talk 225 stated as the event opened. “Not every kid goes home to the same situation and food is very important to their development.”
Denham Springs City Council Candidate Denver Ballard explained that he and Puffer “never imagined [the event] would become this big” when they had the idea for it almost a year ago over coffee at CC’s. “We were getting messages from students that were just hungry, and we felt a responsibility… so the idea was born.”
“This means a lot to us,” Ballard concluded. “Community events like this are what Denham Springs is all about.”
Teams included the Bayou Brothers, Heavy Weight Dads Club, Guardian Day Foundation, Living in Parish, Denver Ballard Campaign, B&P Construction, Boyer Hebert Angelle, Dutsch, AR-1, Rou Tang Clan, Kayla Lockhart, Rotary Club of Livingston Parish, Team B&B, Sherman Mack for District Attorney, Team Vote John Cavalier, and Off the Hook.
Scott Henning and Dwayne Wheeler with the Guardian Day Foundation noted that their participation in the event is not only to support student athletes but also “to give back to the other organizations” that make events like this possible.
“It’s kind of like helping each other, all for a good cause,” Henning added, motioning to the other team's tents in a show of true sportsmanship.
Guardian Day Foundation’s submission for the event was a white beans dish based on a refined version of an all-original, secret recipe.
The winners of category 1 (traditional) were Team B&B with Billy Blocker and Darren Blevins, while John Cavalier took first place in category 2 (wild game). The judges on the panel included Chase Tyler, Tasmin Mitchell, Denham Springs Mayoral Candidate Jimmy Gilbert, Brett Beard, and Mike O’Neal.
As the event progressed throughout the day, Sports Talk 225 also hosted a raffle with prizes ranging from restaurant gift cards to cast iron skillets, all culminating in the final grand prize of a guitar signed by Carrie Underwood that was donated by Keith Duncan and his business partner of Realty Plus. Adam Leonard was the lucky winner of that heirloom-worthy prize.
For those who had their fill of the food available, several vendors lined the parking lot in front of the railroad station to offer their wares. The vendors varied from stalls dedicated entirely to plants to others focused on canned natural preserves with plenty more hawking custom clothes, lanyards, and even fully painted pottery pieces.
Some of the vendors include Bonded Babes Permanent Jewelry, Marked by Mammi Custom Engravings, Sharon Jean’s Peller Jellies, Country Clay Collective, Chapter Twenty Mobile Bookstore, Handmade Hair Oils, Minnie’s Miracle Scents, Petite Blooms Flower Farm, Furry Dragon Fire Mudroom, and more.
To go along with the competitive foods, refreshments were offered by Repicci’s Italian Ice, The Sunshine Stand, Antojos by Sol, Saddle and Sip Cafe, and Lynn’s Tea Cakes.
Additionally, as a way to help beat the mid-day heat, Sugar Shack Express handed out free 8 oz snowballs with flavors including tiger’s blood, wedding cake, strawberry, ice cream, and the ever popular Blue Bubble Gum.
