No such thing as too much gumbo (SLIDESHOW)

DESTIN — 

The fourth annual gumbo contest to raise money for the Destin History and Fishing Museum drew its largest crowd yet Saturday.

About 400 people lined up to dip their spoons into dozens of soup samples in the gym at the Destin Community Center.

View photos from the cook-off »

“I’ve had eight so far,” Doug Diercks said as he sat in a chair on the sideline with his wife, Donna. “I want to try to get through every one.”

The couple recently moved to Destin from Colorado, where they suffered from a distinct lack of gumbo. Saturday’s event was their crash course on the traditional Louisiana fare.

Donna was drawn to the spicier variety, while Doug had to have spoonfuls of shrimp.

Dewey Destin restaurant met Doug’s standard, with huge shrimp and large chunks of grouper.

“It’s more seafood than soup,” said employee Heather Williams.

Rutherford’s at Regatta Bay served a “bird gumbo,” with chunks of tender chicken and duck in a spicy broth.

More than 40 contestants, both individuals and restaurants, entered the competition.

Judges selected the winners before the visitors cast their votes for the People’s Choice.

Bubba Gump and Pompano Joe’s were the judge’s choice for restaurant winners. L’Rena Anderson and Tom Ogle placed for individuals.

Ogle recently moved to Destin from Pascagoula, Miss., where he was born and raised around plenty of gumbo.

He said he has been cooking his crab and shrimp variety for more than 20 years, but Saturday was his first contest.

“My mother used to make a pretty good gumbo, so she may have influenced me,” he said.

Stefanie O’Dell sat near the front of the gym with her daughter Aryn O’Dell and her boyfriend Glenn Cook, enjoying music by longtime local band Dread Clampitt.

The three musicians, Balder Saunders, Kyle Ogle and Kenny Oliverio, played mandolin, guitar and acoustic bass, and sang three-part harmonies.

“I’m impressed,” Cook said. “It sounds really good.”

“They look good, too,” Stefanie chimed in.

Cook said he had tried about six samples of gumbo, but that Aryn had probably tasted 13.

She’d chosen her favorite.

“It didn’t burn my mouth,” she said. “It sort of was the sweetest spiciness. I just knew I liked it, and it had crab in it.”