Southeastern Chefs Evening scheduled March 27
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
by: Tonya Lowentritt 
HAMMOND – Chefs Evening, Southeastern Louisiana University Foundation’s largest
annual fundraising event, returns Sunday, March 27.
Chefs Evening brings together the region’s best chefs, caterers, bakers, and
mixologists for a one-of-a-kind culinary experience, made possible in part by Platinum
Sponsors First Guaranty Bank and Louisiana’s First Choice Auto Auction. Guests can
savor delicious food, sip tasty concoctions, place bids in the silent auction, and
even toast with Southeastern’s President John L. Crain. At the end of the night, guests
will vote for their favorite dishes and the restaurants with the “Best Savory Dish”
and “Best Sweet Dish” will take home the Chefs Evening awards. All funds raised at
Chefs Evening go straight to student scholarships and academic programs.
“Chefs Evening has become a tradition of the university and an essential part
of the Southeastern Foundation’s mission to secure financial resources for the critical
needs of our students and academic programs,” said Vice President for University Advancement
Wendy Lauderdale. “Our guests experience the delicious cuisine of dozens of the best
restaurants and caterers around the region, an open bar, a large silent auction, and
a unique opportunity to mingle with friends, all while supporting the university and
the success of its students.”
For sponsors and VIPS, the evening will begin at 4 p.m. with the President’s
Toast, an intimate gathering at the President’s residence featuring exclusive hors
d’oeuvres from the chefs at One Thirteen restaurant and Crain’s personal wine selections.
At the toast’s conclusion, attendees will make their way to Southeastern’s Pennington
Center for the main Chefs Evening event, which lasts from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Many regional restaurants will be participating in Chefs Evening for the first
time, while several local favorites are making their return: Cate Street Seafood Station,
Cena, Champagne Beverage, The Crescent Bar, Eddie’s Famous Frozen Custard, Jacmel
Inn, Lee’s Drive In, Oak Knoll Country Club, Our Mom’s Restaurant and Bar, Pappy’s
Stowaway Café, Roux & Brew, Sarita’s Grill & Cantina, Southeastern Catering, The BLVD
Lounge and Grill, The Cakery, The Cocoa Bean, The Depeaux, Trey Yuen Cuisine of China,
and Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux.
Funds raised at Chefs Evening provide vital support for student scholarships
and academic programs. Southeastern Foundation’s many partnerships help continue and
elevate this event, thus providing an important platform for boosting the success
of the region’s university and its students.
Special thanks to Entergy Services, Inc., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana,
Fleur De Lis Title, Hancock Whitney, La Capitol Federal Credit Union, North Oaks Health
System, Vexus, Merrill Lynch Wells Fargo, and Northshore Broadcasting.
For more information or to purchase tickets for Chefs Evening and the President’s
Toast, visit southeastern.edu/chefsevening or call the Southeastern Foundation at 985-549-2239.
