LIVERPOOL, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The season’s festivities are set to kick off this weekend with the Syracuse Crawfish Festival. Operation Northern Comfort volunteers have been busy preparing for the annual event, which funds the organization’s work helping areas affected by natural disasters.
The family-friendly, fun event kicks off on Saturday, May 5th in Clinton Square from 11am to 7pm, offering delicious food and great music! The festival’s Cajun food is always the best seller, but what many people don’t realize is that the man who prepares Cajun cuisine has a special story that began more than 15 years ago in Oklahoma.
“I’m the executive chef at what’s called Remington Park, which is our biggest horse race and casino,” said Steve Joule of Oklahoma City.
In Oklahoma City, he is known as “Chef Steve.” But this weekend he’s back in Salt City, a place he considers his second home.
“Since then, we have been coming every year specifically for this crayfish festival, which takes place on the first weekend in May every year,” Joule said.
The Crayfish Festival is organized every year by Operation Northern Comfort, an organization close to his heart.
“They called me and said they needed someone to cook Cajun food and they only knew one guy, which was me,” Joule said.
A call he received almost seven years ago from volunteers there. Joule’s friendship dates back to 2008, after members of Operation Northern Comfort traveled from Syracuse to Oklahoma to help with cleanup efforts after being hit by a deadly tornado.
“Operation Northern Comfort does fantastic work as a nonprofit for veterans and across the country. They were in New Orleans a lot and helped there with floods and tornadoes and those things that happen. We feel absolutely obligated, why wouldn’t we,” Joule said.
Joule returned the favor, volunteering his own time and money.
“They even came to us. Why wouldn’t I go back and help them? This is their biggest fundraiser to help promote and support them throughout the year, so for sure, anything they ask for, I’ll be there without question,” Joule said.
Showing care for others with every lobster served, Joule says it’s a tradition that will continue for years to come.
Click here to learn more about this year’s Crayfish Festival.
