Hogs For the Cause 2012: A Porktacular New Orleans Charity

One of the greatest things about New Orleans is that we’ve got some of the most fun charity events you can imagine. All day crawfish boils and beer, cross dressing foot races, and eating contests just to name a few. One of my personal favorite “FUNdraiser” events is on the horizon, Hogs for the Cause. So what exactly is Hogs for the Cause?

The Cause

Hogs for the Cause started like many other things in this town – an excuse to have some beer and cook with friends. However, the plans of organizers Rene Loupre and Becker Hall soon changed after meeting a young boy named Ben Sarrat, Jr. Ben was a four year old boy who, despite a diagnosis of DIPG (an incurable form of brain stem cancer), always met you with a smile and a joke. Thanks to Ben, the Hogs had found their cause: to help the families who are struggling with the financial burdens of taking care of a child with brain cancer.

The Hogs

The main event of Hogs for the Cause is the cook-off. This year 60 teams of amateurs and professionals will compete in nine different categories, including ribs, butt, whole hog and porkpourri! Because professional teams are competing, attending is almost a guarantee that you’ll be previewing dishes that may be appearing at your favorite restaurant in the near future. Take for example last year’s porkpourri winner, the pork belly corn dog. That’s right, before they opened the doors at The Company Burger, those guys were testing out their menu at Hogs for the Cause. While the Company Burger is back to defend their win, look for strong competition from Emeril’s, Cochon, Squeal and many more.

As with every year, fans can vote for their favorite team to be crowned “Fundraising Champion.” You can do this by crediting your ticket purchase to a specific team and stuffing your favorite team’s piggy bank at their booth. However, new this year is the ability to help your favorite team win every category with a Boss Hog package. Being the Boss Hog has its privileges, like an open bar, catered food, unlimited food from competitors, unlimited beer from NOLA Brewing, and way more. Best part of being a Boss Hog? You get the opportunity to judge the competitors’ food. And as a side bonus, you may be doing it with Celebrity Judge Roman Harper of the New Orleans Saints! Word to the wise though, being a Boss Hog means being in an exclusive club, so few slots are available. As of press time, about half the Boss Hog passes were already gone.

Hogs for the Cause isn’t all food, although that would be fine with us. They’ve also lined up an amazing set of bands. Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, The Gourds, Mississippi Rail Company, Marcia Ball, The Stooges Brass Band, and the Voice of the Wetlands(a collaboration of Tab Benoit, Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Johnny Vidacovich, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone, and Waylon Thibodeaux)!

Need a little variety in your food? Check out the lineup of participating vendors on the Vendors tab. Now you’ve got to wash all that delicious food down with something, right? NOLA Brewing, among others, will be on site to quench your thirsts. Look at all this fun you get to have while supporting a great cause.

Hogs for the Cause
March 24, 2012
City Park
Tickets $10 in advance, available online

All images from www.Hogsforthecause.org. Hogs for the Cause is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

For more fun with food and drink in New Orleans, come join us Just off the Red Streetcar Line.

Tagged as: New Orleans charity, New Orleans event, New Orleans Food