Benefiting the YSB (Youth Service Bureau), Chef Soiree 2013 began in true Irish style (at least Irish enough for St. Tammany Parish) with a parade honoring St. Patrick’s Day, a nod to the day’s event date.  A haunting aria on bagpipes by the Kilts of Many Colours led the more than 3,000 attendees in a parade through the gates of the Bogue Falaya Park in Covington, Louisiana.  The Youth Service Bureau provides advocacy, counseling, education and intervention for at-risk youth and their families from St. Tammany and Washington Parishes.

Held, Sunday, March 17, 2013, from 5pm – 9pm, this annual event featured more than 85 food vendors and live music from Gypsy River, the Hurricane Levee Band, Kilts of Many Colours, Soul Revival, The Wagners, We3 and Amanda Shaw.  Guests munched on many traditional and unusual food offerings such as smoked salmon, Swamp Beans, Cajun Asian pulled pork crosti, roasted pork loin with apricot demi-glaze, seafood mirliton casserole, as well as chargrilled and raw oysters.

Chef Soiree held a raffle based on the theme of the day – a literal “Pot of Gold” – which entailed a cash prize of $10,000 for the lucky winner.  Raffle tickets numbering 3,000 were sold at $25 apiece, the proceeds of which would benefit the YSB along with the cost of the ticket sales.  Guests paid $125/ticket, and approximately 3,000 tickets were available for purchase for this event.  As in years past, Chef Soiree had no problem selling out their tickets.

Many sponsors were in attendance for the evening’s festivities, and you can see all of them by visiting this link.  The Grand Marshal for the event was Jim Henderson, and Honorary Chairpersons Parish President Pat Brister and Joe Brister also attended.  In addition to raising money and awareness for the YSB, the event also honored local company Hubig’s Pies, which had its company building burn to the ground earlier this year.  “Parade people will wear Hubig’s T-shirts or aprons,” said Chef Soiree Coordinator Debbie Bresler. Overall, based on the numbers in attendance and the attitude of the day – beautiful weather, great music, and fantastic food – Chef Soiree 2013 is claiming success for yet another year.

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