Emeril's Boudin, Bourbon & Beer Returns This Friday

If you don't have tickets yet, better jump on it now, because Emeril Lagasse Foundation's third annual almost-sold-out Boudin, Bourbon & Beer is back this Friday, and bigger than ever (like, even the name has expanded). On November 8, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Emeril, Donald Link and Mario Batali will reunite at the Foundry (333 St. Joseph St.) to host the wildest party/ fundraiser/sausage feeding frenzy the Warehouse District has ever seen, with the sole purpose of raising tons of money ($16 million and counting) for programs that benefit area kids, including the Edible Schoolyard, the culinary institute at NOCCA, and The Kingsley House.

50 chefs from New Orleans and beyond will make and serve boudin or sausage. Todd A. Price reports that Mario Batali will attempt to live up to the crazy belly dancing/ lamb merguez station he did last year. Batali will do Italian veal sausage sandwiches and peppers with provolone fonduta this year. "There will be costumes," he tells Price. "There will be musicians. There will be deliciousness."

So what to expect this year? It's still at the Foundry in the Warehouse District, and yes, you should wear jeans and some cowboy boots for dancing because the musical line-up is pretty epic: Grace Potter, The Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more.There will be plenty o' beer from Abita, and bourbon from Buffalo Trace. The 610 Stompers are back, as is the Nat Sherman smoking tent, and the 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall game in which a donation of $99 will get you a fabulous prize. After eating your weight in boudin, you'll probably need something sweet, so New Orleans Ice Cream Co. and Sucre will both be on hand, and St. James Cheese Company will have something for the fromage-minded.

Tickets are $99, available here. The event is the kickoff-party to Saturday's sold-out Carnivale Du Vin, a $1,000/seat gala wine auction that also raises money for the Emeril Lagasse Foundation. Last year, the event raised over $2.2 million to support the Emeril Lagasse Foundation.

· Boudin, Bourbon & Beer Brings Together Major Cooking Talent For a Good Cause [NOLA.com]
· All Emeril Coverage [-ENOLA-]