Chef Jay Ducote

NEW IBERIA, La. --- The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival (April 5 - 7, 2024) is proud to announce four culinary offerings sure to delight your taste buds.

Friday, April 5, 2024:

Jazz It Up Opening Reception

When: 6 - 8 p.m.

Where: Shadows-on-the-Teche (317 E. Main St.)

Cost: $65

Details: Cajun cocktail/dinner party featuring music by Bunk Johnson Brazz Band. Local seafood and other tasty south Louisiana dishes will be offered in the gardens of Shadows-on-the-Teche, a National Trust for Historic Preservation site. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St.). Sponsored by Iberia Preservation Alliance and Shadows-on-the-Teche.

Saturday, April 6, 2024:

Louisiana Seafood Great Southern Chef Food Demos

When: 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Where: Bouligny Plaza (102 W. Main St.)

Cost: $35

Details: Local seafood cooking demo and tastings by Chef Jay Ducote.

Bookclubs and Bubbles

When: 4:45 - 5:30 p.m.

Where: Doc Voorhies Wing of the Bayou Teche Museum (131 E. Main St.)

Cost: Free

Details: Join Katy Shea Svenson as she hosts this tell all presentation into everything you wanted to know about book clubs. Champagne and Hor Dourves will be served.

Cajun Fais Do-Do & Dinner

When: 6 - 8 p.m.

Where: Bouligny Plaza (102 W. Main St.)

Cost: $60

Details: Dance lessons begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and music at 7 p.m. Participants will enjoy Cajun fare and live music by Terry Huval and the Jambalaya Cajun Band. In the event of inclement weather, the party will be held at Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St.).

Menu for the evening is provided by Louisiana famous chef Alex Patout. The bread pudding is provided by Uncle’s Barbeque Sauce’s chef Walter Voorhies. Sponsored by the New Iberia Main Street Program

About the Chef:

Jay Ducote is a chef, traveler, speaker, storyteller, culinary personality, and cultural gastronomist. He received his BA in economics and political science and MA in political science from LSU.

Jay is most widely known for finishing runner-up on Season 11 of the hit reality competition show Food Network Star in 2015. He also had a pilot for his own show, Deep Fried America, air on the Travel Channel in 2016. In 2019, he won an episode of Beat Bobby Flay after challenging the Iron Chef to a crawfish boil. Jay won an episode of Food Network’s Superchef Grudge Match in 2023. He has also appeared on Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, Masterchef, and many more television and web shows.

Jay has twice been invited to cook at the historic James Beard House in New York. He has been a featured chef on ESPN’s College GameDay two times, the pinnacle of learning how to cook throwing tailgate parties for LSU Football. He continues to cook for events large and small, near and far.

Throughout Jay’s career he has led ventures in blogging, radio, television, digital media, barbecue sauces and seasonings, wine, coffee, tacos, catering, pop-up dinners, and much more.

In the Fall of 2020, the LSU Press published Jay Ducote’s Louisiana Outdoor Cooking, a cookbook chronicling Jay’s time growing up hunting, fishing, tailgating, and his professional culinary journey to that point.

Jay currently travels as much as he can to soak in the great cultures of the world and experience everything that life has to offer.

Presently, Jay is serving on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Travel Association and on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the LSU College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

About the Festival:

With a focus on Great Southern Writers, the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival highlights Iberia Parish authors and others who write about the unique culture of Louisiana. Events include cooking demonstrations, workshops on writing, book fair, academic symposiums, receptions, poetry, music, live oak walk, children's activities, readers theater and more. Participants can learn Cajun dancing and tour the areas described in the Dave Robicheaux novels.

The festival is presented by the New Iberia Main Street Program and the Iberia Preservation Alliance (a coalition of Iberia Cultural Resources Association, Bayou Teche Museum and Shadows-on-the-Teche).

To purchase individual tickets or all inclusive passes, visit BonTempsTix.com.

For festival information, e-mail techefest@gmail.com or call (337) 519-9233.

Visit BooksAlongTheTecheLiteraryFestival.com or their Facebook, and sign up for festival updates on IberiaTravel.com (select Dave Robicheaux news). For travel information, visit IberiaTravel.com.