ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — “So this is where is begins—in the garden,” said Chef Ja’Vin LeCount.


What You Need To Know

  • The 6th Annual Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival is Saturday, Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

  • It will be at the Carther G. Woodson African American Museum and surrounding streets

  • It's located at 2240 9th Ave. S., St. Petersburg

You see, gumbo in the style Chef Ja’Vin LeCount speaks of requires collards.

LeCount is in the garden at Daystar Life Center in St. Petersburg, gathering his leafy greens.

LeCount’s addition of collard greens in his Cajun dish helped to crown him a top chef for the 2023 Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival.

“This is something I love to do,” he said as he began chopping his collards into ribbons.

“For a thicker ribbon you would want to go for maybe like a thicker texture,” LeCount explained. “For a thinner ribbon, you may want to cook your greens a bit faster.”

The festival isn’t just for young chefs like LeCount.

It’s for the greater St. Pete community, too.

“Our mission is to promote healthier living in our communities through foods we love to grow and eat,” said festival co-found Boyzel Hosey, “through agricultural sciences, the culinary experience, fitness, nutrition and family fun.”

For LeCount, this honor reinforces something he’s enjoyed his whole life — creating smiles through his culinary creativity.

“I’ve got a lot of good reactions from these collard greens,” said LeCount. “And really a lot of people told me I need to share this with the world, so I want to share this with as many people as I can at the event.”

Lecount, who turned 17 this month, has been cooking as long as he can remember, and has spent the last seven months as a chef.

The Prince Private Academy student would like to thank his family, Junior Chefs of America and the American Culinary Federation.