The Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) will hold its fifth annual Gumbo Contest and Mardi Gras party this Sunday, February 8th at Bridges.
Each year, gumbo teams from across the city come together to compete in this fund-raiser for TEP. This year, there are 15 teams but 16 gumbos (because one team has paid to enter two different recipes). A panel of judges sample and rate each gumbo, but the public also gets a chance to rate their favorites through the People’s Choice Awards.
Local and regional breweries High Cotton, Yazoo, and Memphis Made will be offering craft beer at the event, and the Hot Memphis 4 will perform live New Orleans-style jazz.
Also at the event, TEP will honor its “Champions of Equality” — Chef Kelly English (for standing up to Senator Brian Kelsey last year when Kelsey sponsored the “Turn the Gays Away” bill), Memphis City Councilmember Janis Fullilove (for sponsoring the city-wide non-discrimination ordinance), Senator Lee Harris (for sponsoring the city-wide non-discrimination ordinance when he was on the city council), and Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham (for ensuring that all sheriff’s deputies received LGBT Cultural Competency training last year).
Tickets are $25 for 21 and older and $15 for under 21. They may be purchased online here.
(Full disclosure: The Flyer’s LGBT reporter Bianca Phillips is competing in the contest with a vegan gumbo.)
Left to right: Chef Kelly English, Memphis City Councilmember Janis Fullilove, Senator Lee Harris, and Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham
