Jack's Ride

Cook Team Information


To register a team, contact Frank Dragna at info@jacksride.org or call/text 832.498.5096.

Registration fee is $150.00 per team. This fee includes event entry for up to 3 team members as well as their guests (1 per team member). Checks can be made out to Jack's Ride. In order to encourage as many teams as possible, we are limiting

each team to 3 members.

This is a gumbo cook-off. Any recipe is eligible. Seafood, Chicken, duck, vegetable, road-kill etc… Enter what you think may be your best recipe and let the judges decide.

All teams are asked to cook at least 4 gallons of gumbo. All of the gumbo will be served to guests as part of the festivities. Teams will need to provide their own cookware and serving utensils, as well as heat supply (non-electric). Prep/cooking tables and chairs must be provided by cook teams as well.

Please keep your initial servings small. Keep in mind that people will be tasting 10-15 gumbos. Even a small 3-4 ounce portion means they may consume up to a quart once they are done. They can always come back for more!!

Arrival and set up is pretty much anytime on Saturday. The event begins at 3:00, so feel free to bring your equipment earlier, stake out your area and set up. We will begin serving gumbo to the masses at 3:00 as well. Keep these times in mind when you are planning your prep and cooking for the event. Judging will begin approximately at 4:00.

We would like for as much of the gumbo to be prepared on site as possible, but due to time constraints (and we want the cooks to be able to enjoy the party as well) we don't have a problem with pre-event prep.

If you would like to chop vegetables, slice meat/seafood, and make your roux in advance of the event- feel free. To be honest, if your team wants to prep the entire batch of gumbo ahead of time so you can enjoy the party, we are OK with that too.

The bottom line is this is for charity and we all want to have fun. We trust everyone to make their own and not go buy four gallons at their favorite gumbo hot spot.

We will provide rice for serving with your gumbos, tasting cups/bowls, spoons, and napkins. You will need to provide a serving ladle. Once again, we want to remind you to keep portions relatively small due to the number of gumbos that our guests will be tasting.

There will be a first, second, and third place winner. In addition, we will have a "people's choice" category.

Winners will receive a gorgeous trophy to commemorate their victory.


We will also have a category for best “side dish”.
This can be an appetizer, dessert, beverage or anything that your team may think can complement your gumbo and atmosphere. There will be a first place finish only in this category.

Judging will be a blind tasting done by 3-5 independent and unbiased individuals. After all gumbos are tasted, and scores tallied, they will inform us of their decisions and we will announce the winners. Winners will be announced at approximately 6:00

If any teams need assistance with procuring equipment, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Frank Dragna and we will gladly help in any way we can.


We would like to have at least 10-15 teams participate. If you would like to field a team, great. If not, please pass this along to anyone you think might be interested.





Thanks for your participation. We look forward to having you at the event.