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Chef Patron E.J. Lagasse Keynote Speaker at ProStart Awards

The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation proudly presents the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational March 6-7, 2024, at the Morial Convention Center, Hall J.

ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum offered to juniors and seniors in nearly 60 high schools in Louisiana. It is administered by the LRA Education Foundation and is a National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation curriculum offered in all 50 states and Guam.

BRG Hospitality’s Culinary Competition will commence March 6 where 26 teams will showcase their talents while creating a three-course gourmet meal in just 60 minutes, using just two butane burners. The teams are judged on food safety and sanitation measures, communications, teamwork, techniques, time management, and of course, presentation and taste.

The Raising Cane’s Management Competition will be held March 7, and 12 teams will present their restaurant concepts before a group of judges. The teams are judged on concepts, marketing, operations, and asked a serious of critical thinking questions to determine their understanding of restaurant management.

The top five teams in each category will win a total of $850,000 in scholarships to notable national and Louisiana culinary and management programs college programs.

“The number of scholarships offered to Louisiana ProStart competitors speaks volumes to our students' passion for learning about culinary arts and the operations of restaurants,” said Jonathan Baynham, LRAEF Executive Director. “We are fortunate to have the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board as our title sponsor as Louisiana seafood is a key ingredient for many of our student led teams.”

During the ProStart Awards, Chef Patron of Emeril’s flagship restaurant in New Orleans, E.J. Lagasse, will serve as the keynote speaker. Lagasse, the son of world-famous Chef Emeril Lagasse, will share his journey from the Meril kitchen at age 13 to stages in New York, and his travels abroad.

The winning team in each category will win an all-expense paid trip to compete in the National ProStart Invitational, April 26-28 in Baltimore, Maryland.