On June 26th I received an email from Sarah Haverkamp of Weber Shandwick Worldwide, a PR firm representing Zatarain’s.
Hi Ryan!My name is Sarah Haverkamp and I am working on behalf of Zatarain’s. I was looking at your blog today and I noticed that a portion of your blog is devoted to various cooking contests. I thought you and your readers would be interested in the contest we are holding.
New Orleans’ own Chef John Besh and Zatarain’s – the brand serving up New Orleans-Style cuisine for 120 years – are challenging cooking enthusiasts across the country to a “Jambalaya Throwdown.” And we want to challenge you to start your own Jambalaya Throwdown on your blog.
We have some awesome kits that we’d love to send your way to get you and your readers started – including Zatarain’s jambalaya mix, cooking utensils and a chef’s apron!
Jambalaya Throwdown Press Release
If you’re up for the challenge, let me know – We hope you participate!
Have a great day and I look forward to hearing from you!
Sarah
Sarah Haverkamp
| Of course I replied to the email with interest and so yesterday on the front porch sat a huge box awaiting for me upon my return home from work. Once inside I opened the contents and found this collection of boxes:
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| And so I had to take a peek inside to see the spoils and here is what is included with each “Jambalaya Throwdown Kit”:
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| A Zatarain’s apron, cloth chef hat, wooden spoon and a box of Zatarain’s Reduced Sodium Jambalaya Mix and a box of Zatarain’s Jambalaya Mix. |
The official Zatarain’s Jambalaya Throwdown contest is offering a $2,500 cash prize for the winning original Zatarain’s Jambalaya recipe. All recipes must be original and use the Zatarain’s Jambalaya Mix as a base ingredient. Zatarain’s Jambalaya Throwdown Official Contest Rules.
To enter the contest you will need to use their Jambalaya mix, so here is where my portion of the contest begins. If you would like to enter the Cajun Chef Ryan Zatarain’s Jambalaya Kit Contest for a chance to win a Jambalaya Throwdown Kit just comment on this blog post and list your favorite Jambalaya ingredient. I will keep the contest open until Monday, July 13, 2009 and then I will run a random pick for the winners on Tuesday, July 14, 2009. The kits will be shipped to your address free of charge. And then you can start creating your own Zatarain’s Jambalaya too.
If you have never made a Jambalaya, you might try one that I have made for many years, my Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya.
16 responses so far ↓
1 Anne // Jul 9, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I adore chicken and sausage – but I’d really love to try a Hispanic Chorizo in a Jambalaya – talk about kick!
2 SippitySup // Jul 9, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I went to FSU for 2 years so (believe it or not) we used to party in New Orleans a lot! Sure it was a drive, but it was worth it! I finished college and California and stayed. I sure would like a kit to remind me of the old days! GREG
3 Jessie // Jul 9, 2009 at 4:58 pm
ohhh I would love me some of that!
4 keithgarrick // Jul 9, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I would have to say “Mudbugs”, there is nothing like crawfish. I love to take the shells and make a stock to flavor the Jambalaya. And combine it all in a large pot and wait for the good stuff.
5 Elaine - The Gourmet Girl // Jul 9, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Chef, no doubt about it, Jambalaya must have sausage with this shellfish. Won’t tell you what kind I use, but, here’s a clue…smoky flavor is awesome.
6 Greg Bruno // Jul 9, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Gotta have some good sausage in dat jambalaya! I have tried various kinds, from turkey sausage to standard beef smoked sausage, but I need that special spice that only Andouille or Boudain can deliver. Those are hard to get, here in the Shenandoah Valley, so I have to opt for smoked beef sausage most of the time.
7 TrainBuddy // Jul 9, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Hey Ryan…looks good and I definately would put that “Chef Ryan’s Cajun Blend” on it. (Guess that would eliminate me from the Zataran’s contest…oh well.) But lately I’ve been struck with the fluffiness of Basmati rice and would use that. I also would substitute local hot sausage from Neese’s, Southern Style and then, how about those really BIG New Orlean’s shrimp – 9-16 count! oh my! I would cut across the body to make “pennies”. Then, add a shot or two of Southern Comfort! Didn’t realize it was first made and sold at McCauley’s Tavern. Well, what else? Hmm…yeah, fresh garlic, onion’s (Vidalia?), peppers, celery and how about tomatillos. I might cook the green tomatillo with the Southern Comfort, and the other veggies (except the celery) to get a brown pasty sauce. I’m getting hungry again!!
8 Martha // Jul 9, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Manda’s green onion sausage is my absolute favorite–not too “hot”, just enough tasty seasoning. The contest seems as if it is a lot of fun!
9 Anthony Sepe // Jul 10, 2009 at 1:28 am
Hi Ryan,
My favorite ingredient is the Cumin. Handsdown, I just can’t live without this spice in my cooking.
All the best,
Anthony J Sepe
Bog: http://fromadietitiansperspective.blogspot.com
10 curiousdomestic // Jul 10, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Big fat juicy shrimps, sweet onions, tender chicken, and some Andouille for sure. With a tall glass of sweet iced tea. Amen.
11 Joe // Jul 10, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I use Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Jambalaya mix a lot! My favorite addition is Richard’s or Savoie’s tasso–8 ounces/box of mix is just right. It’s the best combination yet.
12 Jeff Young // Jul 11, 2009 at 3:00 am
I just learned about this contest an hour ago. On another website, I’m sorry to say. And I am truly surprised that I did not hear about it earlier!
I honestly have never used any boxed jambalaya kit. But this throwdown has definitely piqued my interest.
Oh, and my favorite ingredient? Well, I guess I would have to say the sausage. Andouille. Chicken & sausage jambalaya rocks. I even like to throw in a bit of pork chop too. But, favorite ingredient? Definitely the andouille.
13 ValleyWriter // Jul 13, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I’m going to have to agree with a bunch of other folks on this one – andouille is hands down my favorite ingredient!
14 Pink Foodie // Jul 13, 2009 at 6:04 pm
What a wonderful contest! I LOVE LOVE LOVE jambalaya. My favorite way to make it is to incorporate saffron flavored rice! SOO GOOD! And LOTS of shrimp! I’ll have to make it again to get it on my blog 🙂
15 Ryan Boudreaux // Jul 14, 2009 at 6:01 pm
The Jambalaya Kit Contest is over, the four winners have been announced and are listed here: http://cajunchefryan.rymocs.com/blog2/contests/jambalaya-throwdown-contest-winners/
16 Pink Foodie // Jul 23, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Congrats to the winners. 🙂 I’m making some jambalaya tonight.