Food Prize 2026 | Celebrity Chef BBQ

1 Celebrity Pit Master.
3 Carving Stations.
and Delicious Sides!

Friday, October 16th
at Prize Island (700 Texas St)

Friday, October 16th
at Prize Island (700 Texas St)

Doors open at 11:00 a.m. Ends at 2:00 p.m.

Prize Fest has invited a special celebrity pitmaster to join forces with local chefs to create a delicious BBQ experience featuring three carving stations, sides, and dessert! Food, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks are included with your ticket!

MEET THE LOCAL CHEFS

FOOD PRIZE IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

What is the Celebrity BBQ?

It’s not every day you get to taste the flavors of a world-renowned BBQ pit master. But Prize Fest isn’t every day in Shreveport. Our celebrity guest pit master will collaborate with local chefs to create a truly unique lunchtime experience!

Three meats will be prepared by pit master Lewis "Sweet Lew" Donald.

Lewis “Sweet Lew” Donald is the pitmaster and owner of Sweet Lew’s BBQ, a highly acclaimed barbecue institution located in the Belmont neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Donald transitioned from a background in high-end fine dining to become one of the most respected figures in traditional Southern barbecue.

MORE ABOUT SWEET LEW

Five local chefs will bring the sides.

From beans to collard greens, these chefs will inject a little Louisiana into the Celebrity BBQ experience. Each side will be paired with one of the mains prepared by Sweet Lew. Don’t worry, there will be plenty for seconds!

You bring an appetite, we'll bring the drinks and the napkins.

Each attendee will receive five meal coupons. Use these coupons to visit each station. Each station has a main and a side. Visit them all or find a favorite and keep going back! Beer is on the house thanks to Budweiser and Coca-Cola products are free as well.

MEET THE LOCAL BBQ CHEFS

Each chef will bring their spin on a delicious addition to the BBQ.

LOCAL CHEF

Niema DiGrazia

Fronted by powerhouse vocalist AJ Haynes, the group is known for their energetic fusion of punk blues, classic R&B.

LOCAL CHEF

Melissa Brannan

Known for arena-ready anthemic energy and introspective lyrics, they hit new heights opening for Bon Jovi in 2022 being awesome.

LOCAL CHEF

Dylan Teekell

Known for their blend of club-ready beats, rock swagger, and stadium-sized hooks, the quintet consists of members River Gibson.

LOCAL CHEF

Gabriel Balderas

A young black male reunites with his high-school crush after doing five years in prison for being an accomplice to a crime.

LOCAL CHEF

Melvin Nelson

A teen raised in a southern home in the mid-1960s risks everything to cross-dress for the first time after an invitation to a party.

LOCAL CHEF

Melvin Nelson

A teen raised in a southern home in the mid-1960s risks everything to cross-dress for the first time after an invitation to a party.