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Chalmette Sweeps Top Honors at Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational
Mar 20, 2026
The LRA Education Foundation presented the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational on March 18-19 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum in nearly 71 Louisiana high schools, with 2,200 juniors and seniors participating.
The Invitational consisted of the Zea Rotisserie Culinary Competition on Day 1, where 17 ProStart teams showcased their culinary talents Iron Chef-style, creating a three-course gourmet meal in just one hour using two butane burners.
The top five winning Zea Rotisserie Culinary Teams were:
- First Place – Chalmette High School
- Second Place – Lakeshore High School
- Third Place – Central High School
- Fourth Place – Mandeville High School
- Fifth Place – Ascension Parish ProStart
The Raising Cane’s Management Competition on Day 2 featured 14 ProStart teams presenting their restaurant concepts to a series of industry professionals as if pitching to a group of investors. The teams were judged on their menus, concepts, critical thinking skills, operations, and marketing.
The top five Raising Cane’s Management Teams were:
- First Place – Chalmette High School
- Second Place – Hammond High Magnet School
- Third Place – West Feliciana High School
- Fourth Place – John Ehret High School
- Fifth Place – Young Audience Charter School
The top five teams in each category were awarded nearly $900,000 in scholarships to top culinary arts and management programs in Louisiana and across the nation.
Also, the top team in each competition will represent Louisiana at the National ProStart Invitational on April 26-28 in Baltimore, Maryland. Airfare, lodging, and apparel will be covered at no cost to the teams thanks to the National Travel Team Sponsor – TABASCO Brand and Hilton Worldwide Corporate.
In addition, judges awarded a series of awards to teams based on their exceptional skills and techniques. The following are the categories and the top judges’ selected teams:
Raising Cane’s Management Competition Judges’ Picks:
- Restaurant Concept – John Ehret High School
- Critical Thinking – West Feliciana High School
- Marketing – WD & Mary Baker Smith Career Center
- Presentation – Chalmette High School
- Operations – Hammond High Magnet School
Zea Rotisserie Culinary Competition Judges’ Picks:
- Safety and Sanitation – John Ehret High School
- Teamwork- Central High School
- Starter – Lakeshore High School
- Entrée – Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy
- Dessert – Chalmette High School
Individual Competitions:
- Louisiana Shrimp Competition – Young Audiences Charter School
- NOCHI Cake Decorating Competition – Rayne High School
This event was made possible thanks to our generous sponsors: Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board; Zea Rotisserie and Bar; Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers; Sysco; Sodexo Live!; New Orleans Morial Convention Center; Freeman; PJ’s Coffee; and Coca-Cola Bottling Company - UNITED.
A special thank you to the National Travel Team Sponsor: TABASCO Brand and Hilton Worldwide Corporate.