2018 Race to Cannes Winner: Isaih Butler

Each year Louisiana Culinary Institute holds its annual competition amongst its students, Race to Cannes. This bracket-style competition, created in2009, pits LCI’s top students against one another through a series of challenges. These featured students will craft original dishes from a specified set of ingredients including proteins, starches, and vegetables. The winner earns the opportunity to join the American Pavilion cooking team at the Cannes Film Festival in May. During the festival, the winner will cook at the main gathering area for Americans attending this renowned event; prepping over 1,000 meals each day, catering parties, press events, receptions, and luncheons.

This year LCI will be represented by Isaih Butler. Butler prepared an appetizer, entrée, and a dessert. Each dish had to feature strawberries, as well as an additional special ingredient. For his appetizer, Butler prepared a spicy strawberry shrimp with strawberry risotto. His entrée was a citrus baked catfish with smoked oyster duchess and strawberry glazed carrots. He completed his entry with a strawberry tart that featured pepper jack cheese as the special ingredient. Butler’s motivation as he prepared each dish was to offer a taste and flavor that wouldn’t be expected based on the plate’s appearance.

Butler chose to attend LCI to pursue a degree in advanced culinary arts; however, there were a few other schools that Butler considered. Baton Rouge Community College, Johnson Wells, and Louisiana Culinary Institute were on his list. The ultimate factor that led him to LCI was the expertise and knowledge of the staff. Throughout his time at LCI, this didn’t change. “The instructors gave us everything we needed to succeed in our profession.”

As for current students, or anyone considering an education the culinary arts, Butler says to be prepared to learn your craft, and once you do, keep learning. Butler’s goal is to “wow your taste buds,” and in 2018’s Race to Cannes, he did just that, and will continue to do so in France this May.