Sixteen teams began preparing the dishes Saturday morning. While waiting for the two judges to determine the winners, they let festival attendees sample the finished products.
The cooks faced stiff competition, with three- and four-time winners serving things like spinach and shrimp enchiladas and shrimp ceviché, along with traditional dishes including étouffée and shrimp stew.
  
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For some long-time participants, the festival’s not really about the food at all, it’s about family.
“Winning’s fun, but that’s not why we’re here,” said Debbie Comeaux, who attends yearly to watch her daughter, sister and cousin cook. “It’s a famiy affair. We do it every year. Seems like we’ve been doing it forever.”
Clint Renard’s family, known as Lucky 7 at the cookoff, has participated in the cookoff for several years. Renard said he and his siblings took over his father’s boat in Delcambre and take it out to bring shrimp home, but only for the family, who are all neighbors on one road in Delcambre.
“A lot of people think Lucky 7 is a gambling thing, but it’s the name of my dad’s boat,” said Renard. “He named it for his seven grandchildren.”
Christopher Lemaire of Maurice, who competed this year for the first time in eight years, said he is glad he could return. Lemaire took home second place when he competed eight years ago.
“The music, the fun, the love of the people,” he said. “That’s what makes me want to come. And hopefully I’ll break my record.”
The festival continues today with a Fisherman’s Mass at the Shrimp Festival Building, followed by the traditional “Blessing of the Fleet.”
Concessions and rides at the street fair will also be open, with live music to be performed by TK Hulin and Smoke, Steve Adams, Warren Storm, Willie T and GG Shin.
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