Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Food Recommendations

As stated in the previous post, I have spent a lot of time at the Strawberry Festival and as a result, have tasted most of the food on the grounds.  First let me say that you should buy your food on the festival grounds or from local businesses.  Do not purchase food from the large trailers and booths that come in just for the weekend for two reasons.  One the price will be substantially higher at those outside vendor booths and second, the booths on the festival grounds (and leading up to it on 6th street) are operated by local non-profit groups.  These organizations - not only give you great food at a great price - but they put the money back into the community and other great causes.  With that being said, all of my recommendations are found on the festival grounds. 

My Top 5 Must Haves

1.  Seafood Stuffed Potato.  This treat is a great value with lots of seafood and a large baked potato.  I believe that they cost about $8.  This booth is operated by A Touch of Class dance studio. 
2.  Red Beans and Rice Combo.  Another great deal.  For $5 you get a large serving of red beans and rice with your choice of a side - corn nuggets, fried okra, or fried pickets.  This is sold by the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at SLU. 

My red beans from last year. 

3.  Funnel Cakes.  This is from Ponchatoula Junior High and they have been selling these for as long as I can remember.  They are freshly made and covered with a generous amount of powered sugar.  They are topped with a fresh Louisiana Strawberry.  This is my Saturday morning treat each year. 

4.  Fried Shrimp Poboy.  For about $8 you get a freshly made shrimp poboy dressed.  Also, at the same booth is the Fried Onion Mum.  These are also freshly fried and served with a dipping sauce.  This booth is operated by the Theta Xi fraternity at SLU. 

5.  Chocolate covered strawberries.   This is served by a First Pentecostal Church at the booth right next to our pizza booth.  They are hard to resist as they remind passers-by that they have them.  I must admit that sometimes I trade pizza for them or wait for a sale, but these strawberries are delicious.  Also at the same booth, I usually grab a grilled corn sometime during the weekend - another tasty treat. 

Other great options:

Strawberry Shortcake

Jambalaya

Crawfish Fettuccine

Fried Oyster Poboy
Smoked Turkey leg

Great for children:

Pizza

Hamburgers

Corn dogs

**Please don't quote me on the prices - my memory isn't the best.  I will also update this as soon as I see the list of food booths for this year.  I may have forgotten a few great options! 

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival - PHS Key Club Pizza Booth

As some of you know, I have been working with the PHS Key Club for 30 years.  At least 25 of those years we have been selling pizzas at the Strawberry Festival as a fundraiser for the club.  We started with having pizzas delivered to the booth by Mr. B's pizza in Ponchatoula.  Mr. B's was owned by Jim Barker who was a member of the Ponchatoula Kiwanis Club - our sponsoring club.  He was a kind and generous man who was wonderful to work with.  After his untimely death and closure of his restaurant, we sough out another vendor.  Wanting to keep it local, we chose the only other pizza place in Ponchatoula at the time, Dominos.  Dominos agree to bring a cooking trailer to the grounds and make the pizzas right on the grounds.  Although the managers have changed over the years, Dominos has also been a good partner for us. 

Over the years, we have also relied on parent help - especially when we attended district convention the same weekend.  A few of the parents who ran the booth for us - while some of us were gone to convention - were the Peltiers (Stanley and Susan), the Raifords (David and Diane), the LeSaicherres (Jeff and Cathy, Ralf and Liz), and the Willies (Byron and Gloria).  Those are the ones that I can remember that ran the booth the entire weekend for us.  I was grateful for their help and we created a lasting bond - that exists to this day.  It's funny how hard work brings people together.  There have also been many other parents and PHS faculty members - including our current Faculty Advisor, Charlotte Dahmer - who have been a tremendous help. 

Although we make some money, it is also a great team-building and leadership activity for our students.  They are expected to work the booth with our officers helping to supervise.  It is also a service project.  We keep the prices low - $2.00/slice - so that families can feed their children.  It is also convenient to have fresh pizza just steps away from the great music acts performing on both stages.  We also get to enjoy the music. 

So come out and say hello and/or buy a slice of two of pizza - or just come say hello.  We are located on the back corner - near the funnel cakes and strawberry short cake. 

PS - Let me know if any former Key Club members want to help.  It can be just like old times.  :)

Here are a few pictures from the last several years.