The first ever New Orleans Seafood and Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festivals debuted together June 8-10 at the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint in the French Quarter in New Orleans.

The free event featured cooking demonstrations by French Quarter chefs including: Gregg Collier of Red Fish; Joseph Maynard of Begue’s; Paul Prudhomme of K-Paul’s; Brain Landry of Galatoire’s; Michelle McRaney of Mr. B’s; Tenney Flynn of GW Fins; Mike Regua of Antoine’s; Nathan Winowich of House of Blues Foundation Room; Chris Montero of Bacoo; and Darin Nesbit of Palace Café.

Music for the Cajun-Zydeco Festival was presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. and featured 22 performers on 2 stages. Among the artists who performed were: Kermit Ruffin; Tab Benoit; Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers; and Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots.

The Festival was a huge success with nearly 40,000 people in attendance for the food and fun! Check out some of the recipes that were prepared by the French Quarter chefs at the New Orleans Seafood Festival.