Deanie's hosts 6th-annual Pinch A Palooza crawfish fest April 19

Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants’ Pinch A Palooza Festival & Crawfish Eating Contest features traditional Southern sounds, family activities, “Louisiana Wild” crawfish

Free street party celebrates Louisiana crawfish and music April 19, benefits The NOCCA Institute

METAIRIE, LA. —(March 18, 2015)—On Sun., April 19, Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants will present the sixth-annual Pinch A Palooza Festival & Crawfish Eating Contest at Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant & Seafood Market in Bucktown, 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie. A seasonal celebration of Louisiana crawfish, music and culture, Pinch A Palooza runs from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and features six bands and a full afternoon of activities. Admission is free.

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This year the Zagat-rated Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants deliver a Pinch A Palooza Festival(#Pinchapalooza) lineup that includes six local bands and takes fest-goers back to traditional Southern and New Orleans roots, featuring New Orleans originals, bluegrass, Cajun zydeco, plus the unique songs/chants of a traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian krewe, a ceremonial century-old tradition of New Orleans’ African-American communities.

In addition to Deanie’s Louisiana crawfish boiled in its signature Creole seasonings and the restaurant’s other crawfish specialties, The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) Institute‘s Boxcar food truck (@BoxcarNOLA) will offer fare inspired by seasonal produce from the Institute’s Press Street Gardens. All proceeds from Boxcar food truck Pinch A Palooza sales will support the Institute and NOCCA programs.

Pinch A Palooza features Cajun fiddler and hometown sweetheart Amanda Shaw & The Cute Guys, Vince Vance & The Valiants, New Orleans Karma, Jackson, Miss.-based bluegrass duo Bill & Temperance, Southwest Louisiana Cajun Folk band Chansons et Soûlards, and Breakwater Drive, performing Southern rock and 70s and 80s music on the Pinch A Palooza stage for the sixth year. Big Chief Romeo & the Ninth Ward Hunters and New Orleans favorite all-male dance troupe the 610 Stompers will round out the entertainment. Louisiana Music Hall of Famer Vince Vance returns to emcee the day’s events for the third year in addition to his performance with the band.

The day’s activities include two heats and a championship crawfish eating challenge, crawfish races, face painting for the kids, an art market, and photos and hugs from Deanie’s mascot Pincher the Crawfish. Children can practice their fishing and casting skills with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries and enjoy activities that teach about protecting our coast. Contestants can register to compete in the Pinch A Palooza Crawfish Eating Contest at Pinchapalooza.com for a chance to win a crawfish boil for 20 people and other great prizes. Deanie’s crawfish specialties such as Crawfish Nachos, Fried Crawfish Tails and Crawfish Balls will be available for purchase as well as a selection of beer, soft drinks and cocktails.

NOCCA Institute, NOCCA’s nonprofit community support and advocacy partner, has helped turn NOCCA into a flagship professional arts training facility by providing supplemental funding for NOCCA and advocacy for NOCCA’s world-class program. Its Boxcar food truck and Press Street Station cafe gives NOCCA’s Culinary Arts students the opportunity to get first-hand experience in the real-world restaurant industry.

“We are excited to celebrate our second year of serving certified ‘Authentic Louisiana Wild’ seafood at the sixth-annual Pinch A Palooza with the community, and feature entertainment that highlights traditional Louisiana sounds and Southern Roots,” said Barbara Chifici, proprietor of Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants and Seafood Market. “We are looking forward to bringing in several new bands to this year’s festival and giving fest-goers the option to enjoy items prepared by the NOCCA Boxcar food truck, which supports an innovative culinary arts program in one of the nation’s food capitals.”

Pinch A Palooza will take place rain or shine! Entertainment and fun are provided free to the public. Food and beverages are available for purchase (no outside food or beverages, please).

Sponsors of this year’s Pinch A Palooza Festival include EJGH Lakeview and EJGH EMS, Lakeside Toyota, Reinhart Food Service, Louisiana Seafood Exchange, New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union and Performance Food Group.

ABOUT DEANIE’S SEAFOOD

For over 50 years, Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants and Market have been serving huge portions of the best boiled, broiled and fried seafood in New Orleans. Deanie’s operates a thriving seafood market and catering business as well as two successful restaurants in the New Orleans area, the original location at 1713 Lake Ave. in the quaint fishing village of Bucktown (Metairie) and a second location in the heart of the historic French Quarter, located at 841 Iberville St.

In 2014, the Zagat-rated Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants became the first in the greater New Orleans area and the second (Bucktown) and third (French Quarter) restaurants in the state to earn Louisiana Wild Seafood Certification through the Louisiana Wild Seafood Certification Program, guaranteeing its customers and patrons that the seafood they enjoy is natural, sustainable and sourced from Louisiana waters.

Visit shopdeanies.com for fresh Louisiana seafood and Deanie’s prepared items shipped anywhere in the continental United States. To learn more about Deanie’s Seafood, visit us at www.deanies.com or call the restaurant directly at 504-834-1225.

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Editors Note: Photos of Pinch A Palooza 2014 are available.