Smoke, Flavor, and Community

What happens when you combine celebrity barbecue, talented local chefs, beautiful fall weather, and a crowd of hungry festivalgoers? A Friday afternoon lunch worth remembering in downtown Shreveport! 

On October 16, my mom and I attended Prize Fest’s Celebrity Chef BBQ at Prize Island. The event was held from 11 am to 2 pm and brought together barbecue enthusiasts and curious foodies for a lunchtime experience featuring creative takes on southern classics like baked beans, mac and cheese, and the finest meats a pit can smoke. 

The atmosphere was welcoming from the moment we arrived. Although the wind was doing its best to remind everyone that fall had arrived, the sunshine and cool breeze made for the perfect afternoon to enjoy barbecue outdoors. Music filled the space as guests moved between food stations where smiling faces greeted us, and chefs prepared our plates. Admission included five food vouchers for sampling main dishes and sides, along with dessert and drinks. Self-serve coolers offered everything from water and soft drinks to beer and margaritas during our visit. Guests also had plenty of seating, with an indoor bar at a partnering business available for those wanting additional adult beverage options. 

The experience wasn’t just about eating. Prize Fest merchandise was available for purchase with one of my favorite little details being the complimentary bracelet reading, “We Are the Prize.” It was a simple, yet memorable reminder of what makes the festival special: the people who bring it to life. 

This year’s featured pitmaster was Lewis “Sweet Lew” Donald, owner of Sweet Lew’s BBQ in Charlotte, North Carolina. With a background in fine dining and traditional Southern barbecue, Donald brought his expertise to three meat carving stations. One particularly interesting addition was a whole hog that had been roasted overnight outdoors in downtown Shreveport before being served during the event. Joining Donald were five local culinary talents, each contributing their own perspective to the barbecue experience. Together, the chefs showcased the variety of culinary talents connected to our city, and it was a joy to get a chance to taste each chef’s point of view. 

Our Verdict? Of course, no food adventure with my mom would be complete without comparing our opinions afterward. My mom rated her food experience as a 7/10. She enjoyed the overall experience but felt that the cool wind caused some dishes to lose their warmth before she could fully appreciate them. She also noted that the freshly roasted hog had a distinctive flavor that might appeal more to someone with an acquired taste for that style of barbecue. My personal favorites were the mach chow cornbread, baked beans, and burnt ends. I give my experience a rating of 8/10! The combination of familiar barbecue staples with creative twists was exactly what I hoped to experience. The broccoli slaw, however, wasn’t my favorite. While I appreciated the variety, it was one dish I could have done without. Still, what stood out most was the opportunity to sample dishes I might not ordinarily order and discover how different chefs approach classic barbecue flavors. 

Beyond the plates, what makes Prize Fest such an exciting community event is its ability to bring people together through creativity. The festival celebrates multiple forms of artistic expressions from film and music to comedy and culinary arts. Whether you’re a filmmaker hoping to share your work, a chef introducing audiences to your cooking, or simply someone looking for a unique experience, Prize Fest creates opportunities for creatives and fans to connect. Good food, good company, and the opportunity to experience something new right in your own backyard is exactly what makes a community event like this worth attending.