This weekend Steve and I had the privilege of attending Hogs For The Cause NOLA. We were issued Media Passes so we could share about this important, fun and DE-licious 2-day event that has been held annually since 2009.
Welcome to Hogs For The Cause
Now that’s what I call a mighty big jar of mayo!
Hogs For The Cause NOLA
Brushing sauce on bacon wrapped sausages
Raising funds for Pediatric Cancer Outreach
Team Captain Hendrix Longfellow wants you to know you can continue supporting Pediatric Brain Cancer Outreach. Just scan the QR code in this photo to donate to the Cause!!!
This fabulous annual event raises money for Pediatric Cancer Outreach. Sadly Pediatric Brain Cancer is the leading terminal cancer in children in the United States. Hogs for the Cause is the premier national funding source for outreach programs for the children and families effected by this devastating disease. This weekend’s fund raising efforts shattered all records and has raised over 3.6 million dollars!!!
Hogs For The Cause, an awesome festival
This happy piggy at the Greek House of Hogs tent is highlighting Kalamata olives
Steve and I have attended many festivals that celebrate food and music. I have even been a judge at a chili cook-off. So you can trust me when I tell you that this was extremely well organized. With over 90 teams competing in the food division and over 25 bands performing on three stages, it could have been a logistical nightmare. But it wasn’t!
How about a nice cold beer?
The weather was quite cooperative, which was awesome because the event goes on rain or shine. Attendance was stellar. Everyone seemed to have a smile on their faces. People were friendly and enjoying everything this event had to offer.
Pork Sausage Anyone?
Besides the music and food there were games set up throughout the UNO Lakefront Arena venue and photo ops galore. There were even plenty of PortaPotties and hand sanitizing stations.
Judging the Bacon competition
Bacon King Cake Twists with Café au Lait sauce in a Bacon saucer
Photo Credit: Sneaky Judge
As an added bonus, we even got to sit in and judge the Bacon category. The judging took place under a huge tent that was filled with rows and rows of tables and chairs for over 100 judges. Each table received 6 boxes containing samples for the judges to taste and evaluate on a score sheet. Points were given according to Overall Appearance of entry, taste, creative use of bacon, etc. And each table tasted a different group of samples. My table got all desserts, but Steve’s had both savory and sweet bacon entries.
Miniature Bacon Pecan Pies ready for judging
Though we weren’t supposed to take photos, one of the judges at my table did sneak a few and was kind enough to share them with me. Shhhhh! Don’t tell on them.
Bacon Wrapped Bacon Praline Egg Rolls
Two of the entries that I tasted were outstanding – The Bacon King Cake Twist with the Café au Lait sauce served in a Bacon Saucer and the Bacon Wrapped Bacon Praline Egg Roll. The King Cake was delish, but didn’t have a whole lot of bacon flavor. However, in my book, it was the most clever use of bacon by creating a serving dish for the sauce out of bacon. The Bacon Wrapped Egg Roll was addictively yummy.
Even though this was a celebration of all things Hog, there were plenty of crawfish too!
The downside of judging was that we were so full that we never got to taste anything else that first day. So happily we returned for an encore of more music and tasty pork forward dishes.
Creative team names
Team David Hasselhogs
Giant Po’ Boy by Blue Plate Mayonnaise, one of the event sponsors.
The competing teams all had such clever and fun names, like David Hasselhogs, Sir Pork A Lot, My Hammy Vice, The Pig Lebowski, Pig Latin, The pig Easy, and my favorite name – Porkchopitoulas. Walking around on the first day of Hogs for the Cause, I was intrigued by two of the menu items from two different vendors. So I knew exactly what I wanted to eat on Saturday. And we came HUNGRY!
Amazing food
Injecting marinade into a huge hunk of pork.
First we stopped at Hupigs’ booth for a Pork and Apple Handpie to share. The crust was shiny and crisp with a sweet glaze that enhanced the ample filling of pulled pork and apples. It was really good. In fact we learned that they sell frozen pies (just not with pork) and ship all over. We’re certainly going to take advantage of that!
Chew Forks Farms addictively yummy Totchos
After that I was craving something a bit more savory. The Totchos from Chew Forks Farms more than satisfied that urge! OMG, Totchos are now my new favorite dish. These Totchos hit all the taste notes. The dish consists of Smoke Pork Shoulder with their award winning BBQ Sauce No. 4, Bacon, Crispy Tots, Pico de Gallo, Queso, Charred Green Onion Ranch all topped off with Candied Jalapeño slices. If that doesn’t entice you, nothing will.
Awesome music
Jackie Venson performing at the Hogs Stage
Steve and I also enjoyed some fabulous music while we were at Hogs for the Cause. We pulled up a bale of hay to sit on at the Hog’s stage, while we listened to a gal from Austin TX, Jackie Venson. We had to dance to her rhythmic music as she strummed her guitar and belted out vocals.
Tomar and the FCs brought soul to the Tito’s Vodka Stage
At the Tito’s Vodka we swayed to the Soul music of Tomar and the FCs, another Austin TX group. Every stage had incredible performers!
You can still donate to this important cause!
Team Captain Hendrix Longfellow wants you to know you can continue supporting Pediatric Brain Cancer Outreach. Just scan the QR code in this photo to donate to the Cause!!!
You can still make a donation to help with Pediatric Cancer Outreach. To make it easy, just scan the QR code in the photo above and follow the prompts. I felt this was important enough to post this phot twice!!! Thank you in advance for your support!
