Oklahoma chef travels to Syracuse to help with Crawfish Festival

LIVERPOOL, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Season festivities are set to kick off this weekend with Syracuse’s Crawfish Festival. Volunteers from Operation Northern Comfort have been busy getting ready for the annual event, which funds the organization’s work, helping areas impacted by natural disasters.

The family-fun event kicks off on Saturday, May 5, in Clinton Square from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., offering delicious food and great music! The festival’s Cajun food is always their best seller, but what many people don’t realize is the man cooking up the Cajun cuisine has a special story that began more than 15 years ago in Oklahoma.

“I am the executive chef for what’s called Remington Park, it’s our largest horse racing and casino,” said Steve Joule of Oklahoma City.

In Oklahoma City, he’s known as “Chef Steve.” But this weekend he’s back in the Salt City, a place he considers his second home.

“We’ve been coming every year since then just specifically for this crawfish festival, first weekend in May every year,” said Joule.

The Crawfish Festival is put on each year by Operation Northern Comfort, an organization close to his heart.

“They called me saying that they needed somebody to cook Cajun food, and they only knew one guy and that was me,” said Joule.

A phone call he got nearly seven years ago from volunteers there. Joule’s friendship dates back to 2008 after members from 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 non-profit work for veterans and across the nation. They’ve been to New Orleans a whole lot and helping down there with floods and tornados and those things that go on. We just feel absolutely obligated, why would we not,” said Joule.

Joule returning the favor, volunteering his own time and money.

“They even came to us. Why would I not in turn come back and help them? This is their largest fundraiser to help promote them and support them during the year, so absolutely, anything they ask I’ll be there without question,” said Joule.

Showing care to others in each crawfish served, Joule says it’s a tradition he’ll continue for more years to come.

Click here to learn more about this year’s Crawfish Festival.