Television gumbo just is not good enough for the streets of New Iberia, as Bob Blumer, host of the Food Network cable television show Glutton For Punishment, found out.

Currently airing their third season, Blumer and crew are in New Iberia taping an episode of season four, due for broadcast next year.

The show’s premise has Blumer scouring the city in an attempt to learn how to make gumbo. His effort ties in with the upcoming World Championship Gumbo Cookoff.

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Two scenes filmed Wednesday morning featured local residents at Victor’s Restaurant and a segment with Blumer stopping along West Main Street to have passersby sample his ‘homemade’ version of gumbo. As expected, the finicky palates of local residents quickly saw through the charade, allowing the star to resume his quest for gumbo knowledge.

Aiding Blumer in his dramatic search is Kernis “Big Lou” Louviere, local chef and past five-time winner of the gumbo cookoff. Louviere said he had not planned on being a celebrity but did not turn down the request to be in the show.

“I was contacted about the show by the Chamber,” Louviere said. “So here I am.”

Using his insider knowledge of the production, Louviere also took a moment to quash the rumor that celebrity chef Bobby Flay was due to arrive in New Iberia for this year’s gumbo cookoff.

“No. Definitely not,” he said.

“This is Glutton for Punishment, Bob’s show. The Food Network does not exhaust this much energy to bring in someone else.”

The production crew, consisting of members from Los Angeles and Vancouver, will be in town through the cookoff, said producer Lisa Turner. This is the 10th episode the crew has filmed for the upcoming season.

New Iberia was chosen for both its location and, of course, the local cuisine.

“The Gumbo Cookoff is a really interesting competition,” Turner said.

“Bob wanted to see what it’s all about, so in this episode Bob’s learning how to make gumbo.”

During the interior scene in Victor’s restaurant, a quartet of local residents sat at a table, waiting to be approached by Louviere and Blumer and to sample the intentionally inadequate gumbo.

Debra and Beaver Schwing, Trisha Grubbs and Alicia Cousin were not given scripts, but were forewarned the proffered dish was not intended to be savory, but just the opposite.

After successful negative reactions they remained at the table in case additional shots were needed.

Debra Schwing was gracious in her opinion of the production.

“It’s been wonderful,” Schwing said. “Very pleasant.”

Gibbs, seated beside her, was equally gracious when commenting on her time in the spotlight, if slightly more prosaic.

“It was different,” Grubbs said. “Definitely different.”