The weather was raining much of Saturday afternoon, but there was plenty of heat in the pots stewing zesty entries in the Krewe de Croix Kallaloo and Gumbo Cookoff Saturday afternoon on the Christiansted Boardwalk.
Dale “Pops” Robins, cook at Angry Nate’s and from Louisiana, was serving gumbo made from his great grandma’s recipe. Robins, who also plays Santa for Krewe de Croix, said he was doing his part, giving back to the community while having fun.
Luke Tremblin brought a bit of sophistication, with a hot smile, to the event the local European Union, which was formed for the occasion. They cooked redneck redcoat gumbo at Jane’s Multi Cultural table. The group, representing different European countries, wore hand printed T-shirts created on Friday night.
Rain came down in buckets at 3 p.m. and continued to sprinkle on and off during the afternoon. But the competition, like life on the bayou, carried on.
Valerie Morrow-Stiles, spokeswoman for Krewe de Croix, said people were ready to take part and the rain wasn’t going to stop them.
“We don’t let the rain stop us,” Morrow-Stiles said. “We carry on, rain or no rain.”
People took shelter at bars and restaurants on the boardwalk. Judging took place at You are Here restaurant and bar on Kings Alley. People also found shelter there and appeared to be having fun doing karaoke with Dean Hodge.
At the Comanche Mill Yachtless Yacht Club, Todd Manley said his kallaloo was special because it had fresh local pumpkin and it was blessed with Cruzan rum. The Yacht Club got the people’s choice award with 130 votes.
Jane Doe, a private entry, took first place for her gumbo. Tom Eader, a gumbo judge, said her gumbo had great flavor and was extra spicy.
“She brought the heat out perfectly,” Eader said. “It burned your mouth and it wasn’t too salty, like some gumbo.”
Yachtless Yacht Club took second and Angry Nate’s took third place.
In the kallaloo division first place went to Brew Pub, and Yachtless Yacht Club won second place.
Eight entrants set huge stock pots on tables spaced out along two blocks of the recently renovated boardwalk. Samples sold for $2 each, with half the proceeds going to the vendor. The entrants paid a $20 registration fee that goes to the production of Krewe de Croix events. Krewe de Croix will be helping Christiansted Restaurant and Retail Association produce the next Jump Up Nov. 29.
