John Johnson was leery to use the word “dynasty.”
Until Sunday.
After the team from Anne Arundel Community College’s Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Institute picked up a fourth consecutive win in the judge’s portion of the annual GumboFest cook-off, chef instructor Johnson was OK with the term.
Content, even.
“We love coming down here,” Johnson said. “It’s worth everything we put into it.”
The 10th annual GumboFest at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Annapolis drew more than 300 people for an afternoon of music, food and spice. The event raises about $8,000 per year for the Light House shelter in Annapolis.
As wind chills hovered below zero, the heat of New Orleans was available by the spoonful.
The college’s gumbo earned the top prize in the judge’s portion of the 10th annual GumboFest competition. Team members took photos with their trophy and were congratulated by fellow chefs after the win.
There was another four-time winner, too.
The team from DoubleTree by Hilton/Ports of Call restaurant took top honors again in the people’s choice portion of the competition, where the public votes for their favorite gumbo.
The DoubleTree team also won the best table for the fourth time in a row for its elaborate Mardi Gras-themed display.
Executive chef Charles McKnew and executive sous chef Jamie Evans said they were thrilled to win the awards. But more importantly, they were happy to participate in an event that raises money and awareness for the shelter.
“It’s all for charity, which is the main thing,” Evans said.
The gumbos were judged on appearance, aroma, taste, consistency and after-taste. The judges tasted each gumbo without knowing which team made it. They weren’t allowed to confer with each other about the gumbos until after they had graded all of the dishes.
Two of the judges originally hailed from New Orleans, a city known for its gumbo. Another judge was originally from Texas. The final judge was originally from North Carolina, but has cooked gumbo with family in Mississippi and is an aficionado of the dish.
While some of the gumbos were “interesting,” others tasted like authentic Louisiana cuisine, the judges said. Chefs used everything from crawfish and andouille sausage to crab meat and shrimp.
David McDonald, a Louisiana native now living in Glen Burnie, agreed with the judges’ assessments of the gumbos.
“There are a few that are weird, but it’s not bad at all,” McDonald said. “It’s like a little taste of home.”
Second place in the judges portion of the competition went to the father and son team of Jim and Bill Bird of Edgewater — the only non-professional team participating in the event. Third place went to It’s the Pits restaurant on Kent Island.
Second place in the people’s choice portion of the competition went to Chesapeake Yacht Club in Shady Side. The Anne Arundel Community College team placed third in people’s choice.
Ron Bunch of Kent Island said he enjoyed the food and the surroundings.
A band played on stage. A bartender served drinks. People walked from table to table, sampling gumbo and laughing with friends.
“It’s really a good atmosphere,” Bunch said.
Tickets were $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 7 to 12. Children 6 and younger were free.
Rosemarie Schwer of Annapolis said she enjoyed the gumbo, but also appreciated the effort the teams put into their food and decorating their tables.
“Everybody has really gone all out.”
