The third annual “Road to the Final Fork,” a competition crowning the city’s best red beans and organized by the Krewe of Red Beans, will take place March 20-April 8, 2019.
Thirty-two local participants, including 2018 tournament champion Momma’s House of Cornbread, Chicken and Waffles, will compete in a series of cook-offs over the three-week, single-elimination tournament. New Orleanians are invited to participate by sampling and voting in pop-up red beans taste tests, as well as sign up for brackets, with all proceeds going to local non-profits (Anna’s Place, Make Music NOLA, Market Umbrella, Sankofa, RIDE New Orleans, Southern Rep Theatre, and KidsmART are this year’s beneficiaries). Last year, over 3,600 people participated in the tournament, raising $8,000 for the selected non-profits.
Those interested in filling out a bracket will be eligible for prizes for the most accurate bracket. With just a $5 donation, participants will choose winners from citywide events at businesses and nonprofit locations. There are 21 events in all, which are:
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Kick-off event
Jean Lafitte National Park – French Quarter Visitors’ Center
419 Decatur Street, New Orleans
4 to 6 PM
Treme Brass Band will perform, there will be a panel discussion all about Red Beans and Rice, and the very first match of Bean Madness 2019 will happen! Local restaurants begin the competition to win.
Thursday, March 21, 2019 – 5 events
The 32 restaurants competing for the coveted “Legume d’Or” prize for the city’s best RED BEANS begin their competition in single round elimination events. The winners each day advance to the next round
Nadine Blake – French Quarter
1036 Royal Street, New Orleans
4 to 6 PM
Glitter Box N. O. – French Quarter
1109 Royal Street, New Orleans
4 to 6 PM
Crescent City Farmers’ Market – Mid-City
3700 Orleans Avenue, New Orleans
5 to 7 PM
Second Vine Wine – Marigny
1027 Touro Street, New Orleans
6 to 8 PM
Pal’s Lounge – Mid-City
949 North Rendon Street, New Orleans
6 to 8 PM
Friday, March 22, 2019 – 4 events
Bucktown Farmers Market
325 Metairie-Hammond Highway
4:30 – 6:30 PM
Second Vine Wine – Marigny
1027 Touro Street, New Orleans
6 to 8 PM
The Rusty Nail – CBD
1100 Constance Street, New Orleans
6 to 8 PM
Bud Rips Bar – Bywater
900 Piety Street, New Orleans
6 to 8 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 4 events
Crescent City Farmers’ Market – CDB
750 Carondelet Street, New Orleans
10 AM to 12 noon
Louisiana Music Factory – Marigny
421 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans
12 noon to 2 PM
Material Life – 7th Ward
2521 Bayou Road, New Orleans
1 to 3 PM
Terranovas Supermarket – Mid-City
3308 Esplanade Avenue
2 to 4 PM
Sunday March 24, 2019 – 2 events
The Bead Shop – Uptown
4612 Magazine Street, New Orleans
New Orleans
12 noon to 2 PM
Octavia Books – Uptown
513 Octavia Street, New Orleans
1 to 3 PM
Saturday, March 30, 2019
noon to 7 PM
A street party in the 3200 block of Burgundy Street, between Piety and Louisa in Bywater, centered around Bud Rips Bar
Sweet 6-Bean: All the participating restaurants battle to advance to the “Great Plate” to be voted the “BEST RED BEANS.”
The whole tournament is a single-elimination match-up. All matches, just like the basketball tournament.
Elimination rounds happen at the “Sweet 6-Bean” – with two simultaneous matches — all day. The final eight are chosen by all the people who attend and sample the beans. At the end of the day, the eight chosen advance to the “Great Plate” event on April 3.
Live music includes: Happy Talk Band; Tin Men; Treme Brass Band; Bon Bon Vivant; Múevelo and the Maggie Belle Band.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 – 1 event
5 to 8 PM
Great Plate: the Final Eight restaurants vie to be in the “Final Fork.”
Make Music NOLA – Treme
2150 Ursulines Avenue,
Suite C1, New Orleans
Live music too! Free Agents Brass Band
Friday, April 5, 2019 – 1 event
4:30 to 6:30 PM
Final Fork: the Final Four restaurants compete to be in the
Bean Madness 2019 Championship Match!
Bucktown Farmers Market
325 Metairie-Hammond Highway
Live music – (tentative: Treme Brass Band + Bon Bon Vivant)
Monday April 8, 2019 – 1 event
6 to 9 PM
“BEAN MADNESS 2019 CHAMPIONSHIP”
Championship Match: the Final Two restaurants face off for the coveted “Legume d’Or” Prize!
This event features a silent auction and live Brazilian music. All proceeds benefit local nonprofits.
Capulet – Bywater
314 Dauphine Street, New Orleans
For more information, click here.
