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Part of my mission at
Dining With Debbie is to promote all things good about Arkansas, my home state. 
The Allen School in Little Rock is hosting its 4th Annual Jumbo Gumbo Cook Off on Friday, April 5 from 5 until 9 p.m at the River Market in Downtown Little Rock.  Tickets will cost $20 at the gate or $15 in advance.  Children 5 and under will eat free.  What’s not to love about all of the gumbo you can eat?
If you think your gumbo is absolutely the best around, you can enter the cook off.  It’s only $75 per team.  The prizes to be awarded include:  First Place – $500, Second Place – $250, Third Place- #100.  You can also vie for honorary awards: Silver Spork, People’s Choice, Best Booth, Team Spirit and Hottest Gumbo.
Surely there’s something there to tempt all gumbo chefs!
“Since 1958, The Allen School has enabled children with developmental disabilities to achieve their dreams, through treatment, nurturing, and education. In addition to fostering the aspirations of the kids in their care, the parents and the community as a whole find fulfillment in countless ways from the services provided in this unique environment.

The Allen School serves children, from birth to 5, diagnosed with conditions including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy and other developmental delays. The school staff is dedicated to providing the perfect balance of education and inspiration. A combination of early childhood teachers, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals work together with physical, speech, and occupational therapists to tailor programs that maximize each child’s potential.


The Allen School also offers inclusive enrollment, where typically developing students blend with those facing mental and physical challenges. Traits like patience, empathy and acceptance, that are often hard to teach young people, are learned by both groups of students through their daily interactions. In this atmosphere, barriers are removed, friendships are forged and lives changed.” (From: The Cause)

Some of the area’s best-known chefs will be judging:

Several of my food writer blogger buddies will also  be there to offer up their opinions.  You know they are full of it.  Opinions, that is! 



Blogger Judges

Kevin Shalin – 

Thanh Rasico –  Red Kitchen Recipes
Michael Roberts – Arkansas Foodies
Mike “Hot Dog Mike” Juliano – Hot Dog Mike


For additional information
Phone: 501-301-4824
Web:
 
http://www.jumbogumbocookoff.com/GUMBO.html
Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/jumbogumbo
In the meantime, you might want to make one of these:
Seafood Gumbo
Chicken Gumbo
Red Bean Gumbo