Soulard, MO – The 2023 Soulard Mardi Gras season continues Saturday, February 4, with the N’Bliss Cajun Cook-Off. Talented amateur chefs from across the region will face off for bragging rights with a panel of hungry and highly discerning judges, while local professional cooking champions will give Cajun cooking demonstrations – with samples!

New this year, cooking demonstrations will include cannabis-infused Cajun cuisine with help from N’Bliss cannabis dispensary. Chef Mike Johnson of Sugarfire Smokehouse and Chef Adam Pritchett of the Hi-Pointe Drive-In will demonstrate how to infuse cannabis into some of their favorite Cajun dishes just two days before recreational cannabis sales begin in Missouri.

“We’re excited to introduce a new element to one of our most popular events,” said Bess McCoy with the Mardi Gras Foundation. “Our chefs always wow us with creative twists on Cajun classics, and that’s especially true this year."

All food samples available to guests will be non-cannabis-infused, but guests can enjoy samples of cannabis-infused beverages courtesy of N’Bliss. Beyond the Cajun Cook-Off, N’Bliss is also a participating sponsor of the Bud Light Grand Parade and will take part in many of the remaining events this Mardi Gras Season.

In addition to the cannabis-infused cooking demonstrations, Chef Jack Mac (Jack MacMurray III) of the Bistro at Old Hickory Golf Club and Chef Melvin Carpenter of Horseshoe Casino will also give cooking demonstrations of some of their most popular Cajun cuisines.

Admission starts at $65 and includes an open bar of Bud Light and Southern Comfort Hurricanes and live music by the John Henry Band.

Find tickets and more information at STLMardiGras.org. For more information on N’Bliss, visit nblisscannabis.com.

Event Details:

WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Bud Light Party Centre in Soulard Market Park

SCHEDULE:

12:00 p.m. - Doors open

12:15 p.m. – *Cannabis-infused cooking demonstration by Mike Johnson, Sugarfire Smokehouse

1:15 p.m. – Cooking demonstration by Chef Jack Mac (Jack MacMurray III), the Bistro at Old Hickory Golf Club

2:15 p.m. – Cooking demonstration by Melvin Carpenter, Horseshoe Casino

3:15 p.m. – *Cannabis-infused cooking demonstration by Adam Pritchett, Hi-Pointe Drive-In

3:50 p.m. – Award announcements for the amateur chef competition

INTERVIEW AVAILABILITY:

Mike Johnson, Sugarfire Smokehouse

Melvin Carpenter, Horseshoe Casino 

Bess McCoy, Mardi Gras Foundation

Rebecca Reardon, N’Bliss cannabis dispensary

VISUALS: Photos are available for download on Dropbox or on the Photo Library.

About Soulard Mardi Gras

The Soulard Mardi Gras season will light up St. Louis with a full and varied calendar of celebrations until Fat Tuesday, February 21.  This year, Grand Parade Day is Saturday, February 18. Details on all Soulard Mardi Gras events can be found at STLMardiGras.org.

Mardi Gras, Inc., a 501(c)(4) not-for-profit organization, is responsible for producing the Mardi Gras celebration in St. Louis, which celebrates its 44th year in 2023. Soulard’s celebration, which began with a house party among five friends in search of a theme, is now recognized as one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations in the world. The dozen events of the entire Soulard Mardi Gras season regularly draw thousands of annual visitors to the Gateway City and generate more than $20 million in economic activity for the region.