Shreveport Local Chefs Compete at Prize Fest 2025

The Shreveport culinary season officially kicked off in spectacular style tonight! I just got home after experiencing Prize Fest’s Food Prize ‘Come and Get It’, and what a night it was.

On Wednesday, October 15th, the Remington Suite Hotel on Travis Street transformed into a bustling foodie paradise, packed wall-to-wall with enthusiasts from across the Ark-La-Tex.

This ultra-premium event is famous for selling out quickly every single year, and for good reason. It offers a sneak peek at the competition's high stakes while delivering unforgettable dishes and cocktails.

The Culinary Challenge: Chefs, Mentors, and the Search for the Best Bite

The 'Come and Get It' experience is truly unique. Six local Semi-Finalist Chefs are paired with six acclaimed Celebrity Mentor Chefs, and together they create amazing, high-concept dishes for attendees to sample.

Upon arrival, our mission was clear: taste every creation and cast our vote! Each attendee was given two tokens to vote for their favorite chef. My goal was simple: try every single dish and make sure my vote went to the chef who delivered the most memorable and creative bite.

Beyond the food, we were also tasked with sampling the delicious mixed drinks poured by the local mixologists competing for the prestigious Golden Shaker award!

It was a tough job, but someone had to do it.

Meet the Rising Stars: The Local Food Prize Chefs

The competition was fierce, showcasing some of the best culinary talent in the Shreveport area. Here are the six incredible local chefs who delivered stunning dishes at the event:

Chef Chelsea Girard - Heron and Mae & Company

Chef Oscar Davis - Frank’s Pizza Neapoletana

Chef Eric Wages - 2nd Act Supper Club

Chef Dylan Teekell - The Library on Fern

Chef Zachary Schmidt - Fat Calf Brasserie

Chef Jasmine Cherry - Noble Savage Shreveport

Shaking Things Up: The Golden Shaker Mixologists

The cocktail game was equally strong! These local mixologists proved why the Golden Shaker is such a coveted prize, crafting complex and beautiful drinks to pair with the chefs' creations:

Baylee Golden - Fatty Arbuckle’s Pub

Kaleigh "K2" Smith - The Remington Suite Hotel

Shalom Sahlie - Prohibition Bar at Red River Billiards

Hannah Roundtree - Heron / Mae & Co.

Eric Madrigal - The Chord

Every Single Bite I Tried at Come and Get It

@krystalchica Viva la Food Prize!!!! #shreveport #prizefest #foodfestival ♬ My Funky Life - Dmitriy Sadovoi