Texas Crab Festival Gumbo Cook-off, May 11, 2024

Keeping the “Crab” in the Crab FestivalOnly $25 Entry fee per gumbo team
(registration limited to the first 10 teams)

We are looking for anyone and everyone to enter this year’s Charity Gumbo Cookoff. In keeping with the theme of the Festival, all entries will contain crab. The Gumbo Cookoff will feature a People’s Choice award along with winners selected by a panel of judges. Each team will be given a cooking area; all teams are responsible for bringing their own supplies for cooking. The Texas Crab Festival will provide sampling cups, napkins and judges’ sampling cups. Trophies and Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place.

GUMBO COOKOFF ENTRY FORM

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Official Rules and RegulationsTeam Captain:
Each team will designate a team captain, who is responsible for seeing that each assigned area is kept clean, that a judging sample is taken to the judging table and that all team members have read and understand these rules and regulations.

Check-in:
Check in and set up begins at 7:00 am. A Gumbo Cook-off representative will be at the appropriate gate to show teams to their cooking area. The team captain and two team members will be admitted to the Festival free of charge. Additional members may assist the team at the cookoff but will be required to pay admission if they want to enter the festival (15 yrs. and under are free). The park opens to the public at 10:00 am. All teams must be checked in by 9:30 am.

Space:
The cookoff will be held on the concrete surface under the Pavilion. Each team will have a 10’ x 10’ space. Teams must provide their own tables, canopies are optional. All teams must bring all supplies necessary for cooking. The Texas Crab Festival Charities will not be responsible for supplying utensils, pots, pans, burners, etc. Each Team will be provided a hand washing station consisting of a 5-gallon cooler with a continuous flow spout and a bucket to catch the wash water. A three-tub utensil washing station will also be provided.

Gumbo:
All fresh food cooking and preparation for the event must be done on premise the day of event, including roux and stock unless purchased commercially. In keeping with the Texas Crab Festival theme, each gumbo must include crab. All other ingredients are at the teams’ discretion. Each team shall furnish 4 gallons of gumbo and provide sufficient rice. Teams will provide samples to the public. Those sampling the gumbo will be given a ticket to vote on their favorite gumbo. The public tasting will take place from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm (or until the gumbo runs out).

Supplied Items:
The Texas Crab Festival will provide sampling cups, utensils, napkins and judges’ sampling cups.

Judging:
Numbered containers for the judging will be provided by the Texas Crab Festival Charities at approximately 11:30 am. A team captain is required to deliver the numbered sample to the judging area by 12:00 noon. The judging area will be communicated to each Team Captain the morning of the event. The winners of the cook-off will be announced at approximately 2:00 pm. All decisions by the judges are final. The judges will give each gumbo a score between 1 and 10. The judging criteria are as follows:

The judges will give each gumbo a score between 1 and 5. The judging criteria are as follows:
– Appearance – has a good gumbo-roux color
– Aroma – must smell appetizing
– Consistency – stirs like a good gumbo – thickness of base, etc.
– Texture – balanced quantity of ingredients
– Flavor – tastes like a good gumbo, pleasing to the palate
Cooking conditions are subject to inspection. Failure to follow these rules will be grounds for disqualification. Any changes to these official rules and regulations will be communicated to Teams in advance of the event.

Awards:
Awards will be given in the following categories:
People’s Choice
Trophy and Free Entry for the 2025 Texas Crab Festival Charity Gumbo Cook-off
Judges’ Awards
1st, 2nd & 3rd place trophies.

Alcoholic Beverages:
All alcoholic beverages must be purchased at the event. Each team will receive 5 beer tokens.

Sportsmanship:
This event is a charitable event to raise money for our community. We ask that you have a fun time we thank you for your support of this event!

Questions:
If you have questions about the registration form or the rules or regulations please call the cookoff representative: Bob Currie, 254-718-8900.

**The Galveston County Temporary Food Establishment Permit must be completed and submitted to the Galveston County Health Department. There is no additional fee for this permit. A Health Department representative will contact you in advance of the event to ensure you understand the health department guidelines. Get your permit early. Late entrants (within 2 days of the event) will have to pay a $25 fee. Your permit must be displayed at the festival.

Galveston County Health Department.
Click on “Temporary Food Permit Application”You will need this information for the form:
IRS Tax Exempt Number: 46-1076676
Special Event: Texas Crab Festival Gumbo Cookoff
Sponsor: Texas Crab Festival Charities
Date of Event: May 11, 2024
Time: 8 am – 1 pm
Location: Festival Park, 1605 Hwy 87, Crystal Beach
Organization: Texas Crab Festival Charities

GET YOUR PERMIT EARLY. LATE ENTRANTS (WITHIN 2 DAYS OF THE EVENT) WILL HAVE TO PAY A $25 FEE. IF ANYONE DOES NOT HAVE THEIR COMPLETED PERMIT DISPLAYED AT THE FESTIVAL, THERE WILL BE A $175.00 FINE.

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The Texas Crab Festival is operated by Texas Crab Festival Charities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation whose mission is to increase educational and career opportunities for Bolivar Peninsula residents of all ages, and to support local organizations that further the goal of improving the lives of the residents of Bolivar Peninsula.

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