Cook-Off for the Coast Saturday, Feb. 28 at Docville Farm

The eighth annual Cook-Off for the Coast will offer free family-friendly fun on Saturday, February 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Docville Farm in St. Bernard Parish. The event – co-hosted by Restore the Mississippi River Delta, Vanishing Paradise and the Meraux Foundation – raises awareness about coastal restoration by celebrating the bounty and cuisine of Southeast Louisiana.

“For the eighth year, we are honored to host this signature event at Docville Farm, where it has become a cherished community tradition,” said Rita Gue, president of the Meraux Foundation. “The Cook-Off brings people together to celebrate our cultural heritage and support innovative solutions for the future of coastal Louisiana.” 

Local cook teams will compete by preparing dishes featuring the abundance of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands, including seafood and wild game, and serve free samples to the public. A panel of judges, including local chefs and community leaders, will rate the entries on taste, originality and presentation. Trophies will be awarded in the following categories: swims, flies, crawls, crowd favorite and student categories. 

T Marie and Bayou Juju will provide live Cajun and Zydeco music throughout the event. Libations and specialty cocktails will be available for purchase from local favorite, Pirogue’s Whiskey Bayou. Additionally, a host of local organizations engaged in coastal restoration, invasive species, urban stormwater management and other issues addressing and celebrating the culture and economies of Southeast Louisiana will be on hand with information and kid-friendly activities.

Cook-Off for the Coast showcases the abundant resources that make Louisiana’s Sportsman’s Paradise special,” said Connor Gilbert, sportsman outreach coordinator for Vanishing Paradise. “Having the opportunity to engage with local communities about critical conservation and restoration work highlights the importance of protecting these areas and traditions for future generations.”

All proceeds from the 2026 Cook-Off for the Coast will benefit the Nunez Community College Coastal Studies Scholarship Endowment. This endowment will strengthen the resilience of St. Bernard Parish and wider coastal Louisiana by training the coastal restoration workforce of tomorrow. 

“This annual event brings people together to strengthen ties with our coastal communities, showcase the bounty of Louisiana and support the next generation shaping our coast’s future,” said Simone Maloz, campaign director for Restore the Mississippi River Delta.  

The 2025 Cook-Off raised more than $26,000 for the Nunez Community College Coastal Studies Scholarship Endowment. 

Admission to the family-friendly event is free. Several sponsorship levels are also available to support the Cook-Off and help fund Nunez Community College’s Coastal Studies Scholarship Endowment. Please contact Chris Haines at chrishaines@merauxfoundation.org to learn more about sponsoring.

Additional support for this year’s event comes from the St. Bernard Parish Coastal Division, St. Bernard Parish Tourism and Nunez Community College. 

For more information about the event, please visit coastcookoff.com.