THIBODAUX, La. – Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois, an alumnus of Nicholls State University’s Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, has been nominated for a 2026 James Beard Foundation Broadcast Media Award for his series “Duck Camp Dinners.” The series, now in its fourth season, explores the connection between Louisiana’s hunting culture and environmental conservation and is available on platforms such as Outdoor America and Tubi.
Bourgeois is also set to compete on the Food Network’s upcoming series “Chopped Castaways,” premiering May 12. The show places 12 chefs on a remote island, where they must create dishes with limited resources for a $100,000 prize.
After working in high-end kitchens in New York and California for over a decade, Bourgeois shifted to digital storytelling and food journalism. On his YouTube channel, “Stir the Pot,” he showcases local South Louisiana eateries to highlight the region’s culinary heritage.