NEW ORLEANS – Food Fight, presented by Stella Artois, will kick off its inaugural event on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in Crescent Park, with more than 40 of New Orleans’s top restaurants and spirits brands vying for fans’ and celebrity judges’ top picks.
Currently, confirmed restaurant competitors for Food Fight include:
Alma
BonFire
Boucherie
Brennan’s
Copeland’s
Coppervine
Emeril’s
Francesca’s
Galiano’s
Gris Gris
Jinx Bar and Grill
Johnny Sanchez
Josephine Estelle
Katie’s
Los Jefes
Messina’s
Meril
Otra Vez
Parkway Bakery
Pigeon Catering
Restaurant Rebirth
Rizzuto’s
Saint John
Silk Road
Sofia NOLA
Table and Tap
Tava Indian Street Food
Tchefuncta Country Club
The Joint
Zhang Bistro
Spirits competitors include:
Jack Daniel’s
Ford’s Gin
Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
Jagermeister
Teremana
Milagro
Hendrix Gin
Fistful of Bourbon
Blue Whale Gin
Flora de Cana
Bayou Rum
Casa Noble
Casamigos
El Buho Mezcal
In addition, Food Fight will highlight local distilleries including Who Dat Spirits, Wetlands Sake, NOLA Distillery, Happy Raptor, Left Bank Whisky, Marsh House Rum and Atelier Vie.
Top Taco, New Orleans’ signature taco and cocktails event produced by Shane Finkelstein, will host Food Fight on the New Orleans Riverfront at the Mandeville Shed & Ellipse Lawn (2300 N. Peters St.) at Crescent Park in the French Market District.
Fans and celebrity judges will select winners for Top Classic Dish, Top Creative Dish, Top Classic Cocktail, Top Creative Cocktail and Top Vegetarian Dish.
“This event is a celebration of New Orleans food, cocktails, art, and entertainment,” said Finkelstein. “We wanted to do something good for the city and our beloved restaurants after such a difficult two years.”
Attendees will have access to pop-up bar areas and DJ lounges, spirit tastings, live music by Honey Island Swamp Band and James Andrews, Trixie Minx Burlesque, Live Painting by Frenchy, and additional art and entertainment elements.
In the William Grant VIP Lounge, chefs will prepare signature dishes to pair with Hendrix Gin and Fistful of Bourbon cocktails curated by mixologist Alexa Bowler of Emeril’s and Meril, plus additional entertainment, premium spirit tastings and a gourmet dessert station.
Gates open for early entry at 6 p.m., with VIP and First Tasting fan voting beginning at 6. General admission entry begins at 7 p.m. Fan voting continues until 9 p.m., with winners announced on the Performance Food Service Stage at 9:30 p.m. NOLA Boards will be presented to the winners.
Tickets are now on sale, with general admission tickets at $75.00, Early Entry First Tasting tickets are $100, with VIP tickets at $125. Once inside the festival, all food and drinks are included. Information on ticket purchases is available at www.foodfightnola.com.
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