By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

GARYVILLE – Sunny weather saved the day from slightly cool temperatures as a sizeable crowd came out for the first St. John’s Top Chef: Cookin’ For a Cause at San Francisco Plantation Thursday.

Teams competed in either the gumbo or the jambalaya category.

The team from Napa Auto Parts, consisting of head cook Mickey Lemoine, Randy Lea and Isra Thames, took first place in the gumbo category, while Bill Russell, Danny Martin, Don Borne and Timmy Cancienne of Team Dupont took the top prize in the jambalaya category.

Other teams placing included Nalco and Marathon, which took second and third place, respectively, in the gumbo category, and River Parishes Tent Rental and Marathon, which took second and third place, respectively, in the jambalaya category.

The event was a benefit for the St. John United Way, and the $5 admission fee entitled those in attendance to all the gumbo and jambalaya they could eat.

United Way Executive Director Dean Torres said he was pleased with the event.

“For the first time and with the weather shifting, it’s not bad at all,” he said. “The best thing is it’s a mix of people.”

Besides the main dishes, drinks and desserts were on sale at the event. Additionally, for a $5 fee people could have their photos taken with or get an autograph from Bruce Mitchell of “Swamp People” fame.