25 Slow Cooker Recipes We'll Be Making All Winter

Trumpet Gumbo

From Brad Courtemanche, Trumpet Gumbo is the story of a young chef who bursts into stardom. But does he have what it takes to succeed?

Chef Buddy Bontemps (Brandon Scales) recently won a reality television prize of owning his very own restaurant in New Orleans, but there's a catch. The network insists that Buddy complete a mentorship program under Michelin-starred Chef Deluca (John Fiore)—think Gordon Ramsay but without a soul (if that's even possible). Though a star on the national stage, Buddy is a lowly grunt at Deluca's restaurant. It's clear that Deluca resists Buddy's stardom and refuses to put him on the line. While in the back prepping for the evening dining, Buddy finally gets a chance to prove himself on garnish with Deluca's only advice, "Don't f**k this up!" "Buddy finally gets a chance to prove himself on garnish with Deluca's only advice, 'Don't f**k this up!'" It appears the restaurant business is the last place where employees are treated with little dignity or respect. However, maybe in the ultra-competitive world of fine dining, there is no room for mistakes, and the military-like discipline is what separates Spago from McDonalds. Courtemanche's story plays around with the villain image of Deluca juxtaposed against Buddy's desire to fulfill his dream, as he questions whether he wants that dream badly enough. Trumpet Gumbo centers on Buddy, played perfectly by Brandon Scales, who finds the will to break through inspired by the music of Buddy's late father. The story succeeds in building the right amount of sympathy for Buddy just before putting him through the wringer. We then question whether Deluca's "abuse" is warranted or not. For those of us reality show junkies, Trumpet Gumbo might start off as an episode of Hell's Kitchen but culminates in an understanding of the intestinal fortitude it takes to make our dreams a reality. Nothing of value is ever handed to us on a silver platter.

"…Think Gordon Ramsay but without a soul (if that's even possible)."

'Save Scrim Gumbo Cook-Off' Will Raise Money For New Orleans Pet Rescue Program. Here's How.

Scrim, the legendary runaway terrier, is famously hard to find. But gumbo, the legendary Louisiana dish, will be easy to find at the Save Scrim Gumbo Cook-Off on Jan. 11 at Bayou Daiquiris and Bar, 7251 Veterans Memorial Blvd., in Metairie.

A steaming bowl of gumbo.

FILE PHOTO

Eight teams will make gumbo to raise money for Zeus' Rescues, the New Orleans pet rescue that has spent so much time and so many resources trying to bring the wily woofer in from the outdoors and find him a good home.

Teams of two to four cooks can enter for $50 per team, competing for a judged decision and a People's Choice competition, and aiming to make it to the Wall of Fame.

Gumbo, a minimum of 2.5 gallons, must be completed by 6 p.M., with samples for the public offered from 6:30 p.M. To 8:30 p.M. For tickets. The winners will be announced at 9 p.M.

All entry fees go directly to Zeus's Rescues, and donations to the nonprofit are encouraged.

And Zeus' Rescues will be on hand with some pets in need of forever homes. 

Scrim was a shy stray found on Halloween 2023 in a Houma trailer park. Zeus' Michelle Cheramie retrieved the dog from the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter and placed him with an adoptive family in Mid-City, but Scrim immediately escaped. The dog became a local sensation, as he evaded capture for almost six months.

In October, Scrim was trapped in a fenced parking lot, where Cheramie darted him and brought him to a vet. He seemed safe at last, but, three weeks later, on Nov. 15, the dog escaped again, diving 13 feet from the second-story window of Cheramie's Uptown home to keep running. Zeus' is still searching for him.

Details to register for the gumbo cook-off can be found here. For information, contact Bayou Daiquiris & Bar or Zeus' Rescue on Facebook.

'Trumpet Gumbo' Review: A Chef Narrowly Avoids A Kitchen Nightmare

Music, like food, is best when made from the heart. This sentiment rings true in writer-director Brad Courtemanche's aspirational short drama Trumpet Gumbo, which shows how a young chef overcomes an embarrassing kitchen blunder by remembering love is always the main ingredient. Made for a modest $10,000, Trumpet Gumbo is a highly effective film that showcases the intensity of kitchen etiquette and the power of positive thinking.

Yes, Chef

The film opens with a recognizable trumpet melody that immediately brings the viewer into the heart of New Orleans. Here, we meet Chef Buddy Bontemps, a local street food legend and recent winner of a popular cooking show. Buddy's star is burning bright, and with the newfound attention on him and his culinary skills, he has the opportunity to open his own restaurant. However, he is still months away from completing a mandatory mentorship under the highly skilled Michelin star Chef Deluca before Buddy's restaurant dreams become a reality.

Buddy may not be a perfectionist in the kitchen, but his routine is uniquely his own. He cuts herbs and sharpens knives while listening to his late father's jazz album. The spirit of the record keeps Buddy's mindset optimistic until a kitchen misstep gets into his head, and this worst-case scenario begins playing out like a surreal nightmare. Chef Deluca berates him in front of the entire crew for misremembering a recent order. Almost losing his cool, Buddy turns to the one thing he knows can get him through anything: music. Taking a breath, he pulls out his phone and plays his favorite song, made by his late father, "Trumpet Gumbo". He gets back to work with his confidence slightly shattered, but his head held high.

Takeaway

Trumpet Gumbo is a story of resilience set in the creative world of culinary arts. A strong performance by lead actor Brandon Scales anchors the film. His emotional catharsis serves the film's bigger picture and gives way to a strong payoff. Fans of The Bear and those who love the music of Damien Chazelle's films (Whiplash, Babylon, La La Land) will find much to enjoy in Trumpet Gumbo. 

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