The ninth annual mARTi gras benefit for Art on the Edge was a huge success downtown Coeur d’Alene Saturday. The third year for the Cajun Cook-off brought hundreds of revelers through different venues, while tasting the Cajun delicacies prepared by some of the best chefs in north Idaho.

Menu items featured Blackened Sea Scallops with yellow pepper cheese grits by Gabriel Cruz of Cafe Trinity, Sandpoint, Seafood Gumbo by Race Jones of Cricket’s Steakhouse and Oyster Bar, Mardi Gras Sparklers (jumbo prawns blackened and spun in crispy fried magic on a skewer) by Troy Louis Chandler of Bonsai Bistro, Alligator and Andouille Picante over Dirty Rice by Jory Schemling of Eddie’s Bar & Grill, Sundried Tomato Polenta Cake with goat cheese by Angelo Martini of Angelo’s Ristorante, and Pumpkin Chipotle Chili Flan by Colomba Aguilar of Cafe Carambola in Coeur d’Alene.

The winners were: Best Appetizer: Creole shrimp with Jambalaya Rice Cake by Kris McIlvenna and Dennis Woolard of Greenbriar Catering and Events. Best Entree: Seafood Etoufee by Christian Schultz of Moon Time and Best Dessert: King Cake by Debbie Simel of Bakery by the Lake, all of Coeur d’Alene. People’s Choice award went to Adam Hegsted at Brix Restaurant for his Blue Crab Ravioli with Bourbon Cream topped with shaved parmesan amaretti.

The Coeur d’Alene Resort hosted the Kids Carnival free art event ”Artists in the Making” Saturday in the Plaza Shops, and a full weekend of great music with the Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival from the 16th-18th.

The mARTi gras event is a celebration and benefit for Art on the Edge, a free art program for kids. Contact Art on the Edge for more information at 208-676-0917

This entry was posted on Monday, February 19th, 2007 at 6:43 pm and is filed under Editor Picks, Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.