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 CHEF 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

Originally from Sierra Leone, Chef Niema brought her West African culinary heritage with her when she made Shreveport-Bossier home, borrowing from West African and Caribbean tradition.

LOCAL CHEF

Stu
Dyson

Chef Stu, former pitmaster at Magnolia Pit, will offer a five-course dinner experience that will include the following dishes:

LOCAL CHEF

Cindy Johnson

Chef Cindy Gleason Johnson’s first venture was a pop-up business as Cafe Camellia, which ultimately became what is now known as Southern Faire.

LOCAL CHEF

Kelsie Mayeaux

A Mamou native with Cajun flavors in her bloodline and seven years of experience at Gibbons Fine Grill.

LOCAL CHEF

Melvin Nelson

Chef Mel is creative in multiple disciplines. Be it under his moniker “idioM” in the literary realm, in a choir singing tenor, or in a kitchen wafting spices, he thrive off of the beauty of art and creativity.