Eat!! More!! Shrimp!!

The happening place to be in Port Isabel today: the 21st Annual World's Championship Shrimp Cook-Off!!

It is advertised as: Food and Fun!  Professional and amateur chefs preparing fresh Gulf shrimp!  Trophies for Amateurs and Professionals!  Gifts.  Food.  Collectibles.  Art Vendors.  Mini Carnival.  Clowns.  Face Painting.  Great Family Fun!!  Live Entertainment by The Agency!

However they bill it, it is a big deal around here.  This area is famous for being "the Shrimp Capital of the United States."  The restaurant that wins this cook-off gets bragging rights for the next year, and that is very good for business.

Before heading to the cook-off, Izzy got fed.  She wanted to be sure she didn't have to go, so she hid out.  You can't see me...

"Umm - yes, we can."

"Fine.  I'll hide in another place where you won't find me."

"Let me guess: you're in the closet?"  It isn't always easy for a long-hair cat to hide.  ;-)

Off to the Shrimp Cook-Off.  Well, we stopped for lunch first.  One of us doesn't like shrimp.  OK, the other of us can take it or leave it.  But, did I mention: we are in the shrimp capital of the US?  We weren't going there for the food, but there are other food booths there selling stuff besides shrimp; we were going for the live entertainment.  This is the 14th year that The Agency has been playing for the cook-off.  The band is made up of guys about our age, playing music from our era.  And, they are good!

Before looking for a seat in the entertainment tent, we walked around a bit.  Vendor booths...

The shrimp cook-off competitors booths...

Yes, a good crowd.  Early estimates are for between 5,000 and 8,000 visitors.  Joan wanted to look closer at this booth...

Lucky for me (and Izzy), they only had dogs today.

We stood in line for some fine food, then got a place in the entertainment tent...

Nothing says "Shrimp Cook-Off" like a funnel cake!

After a visit from the Bud Light girls...

We got there while the band was on a break... just in time for the cheerleaders from Port Isabel Junior High and High School...

Those two cheer squads, along with the high school dance team did various cheers and dance routines punctuated with "Eat more shrimp!  Eat more shrimp!"  I did mention that this is a big deal around here, didn't I?

Of course, no shrimp fiesta is complete without a bouncy house...

There were other "kid rides" that didn't seem so kid friendly... like the one where they strapped you into a seat, then spun you like you were doing somersaults... doesn't seem like a smart ride to have where you just filled the riders up with all kinds of "fair food."  ;-)

One of the booths from the Museums of Port Isabel was selling these...

Dia de los Muertos or pirate theme?  Maybe a bit of both.

Bring it down to HEB-ville...

Saturday Night Live and Justin Timberlake reference.  ;-)  HEB is our big grocery store - that is a walking bag full of groceries.

On with the show - The Agency...

Good musicians, nice harmony on the vocals.  Plenty of 60s and 70s music, with a few 50s songs in there, too.  They stay very busy during the "Winter Texan" season.

Good crowd...

The band played right up to the award ceremony and the drawing for a TV (no, they didn't draw our ticket numbers).  Then the band cranked up again.

A good day for a shrimp cook-off in the Tropical Tip!