The pre-game trash talk started on social media well before the first spaghetti was sauced or the first pie was sliced, long before a Sterno can was lit beneath a chafing dish at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church for Taste of the Boulevard on Sunday.

Co-chairman Brian Harris posted a photo of his Cajun pasta on Facebook Saturday. Jason Gardner took him on: “It look like feet.” Harris volleyed right back and asked Gardner if he needed to set up in the gym instead of the community hall: “Your ribs are so dry folks got to eat them in the shower!”

But it was all in good fun, and all for a good cause. At the end of it all, about $7,500 was in the coffers for the church’s Angel Tree, which will be used to buy Christmas gifts for children who might otherwise have nothing.

It was probably the 17th year for Taste of the Boulevard, but it might’ve been the 16th; they’ve narrowed it down to one or the other and it leans a bit to 17. It’s part of the men’s ministry and the men do all the cooking.

“Don’t tell me that men can’t cook,” said emcee Tracy Bethea of Hallelujah FM 95.7.“I see all the women just walking around and enjoying it.”

The feasting for about 700 people started after Joshua Narcisse, an intern at Church Health Center and the church, led a blessing that included thanks “for every dip, every pie, every lasagna…. We will not just eat, but eat well.”

Marvin Wright was back with his lemon butter pound cake.

“I’ve been here every year since they’ve been doing it,” he said. “I’ve won about 10 times.”

Make that 11, as the cake — impossibly moist and tender, served still warm — took home a first place trophy in the dessert division again.

He’s not sharing that recipe.

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” he said. “Well, I wouldn’t do that, but somebody would probably kill me for telling you instead of them.”

Keenan DeBose’s jerk shrimp and grits won in entrée; Ronald Roberts’ broccoli-and-cheese corn bread won for appetizers; red beans and rice cooked by James Shell was named best side dish; and Rick Bobo won for best table with his “Rick’s Café Americain” theme.

The Netflix show “Somebody Feed Phil” was on hand to film as show host Phil Rosenthal judged a few items and made his way around the fellowship hall to fill his plate with samples.

Bethea warned the crowd.

“We’ve gotten so much attention that Netflix is in the building, so make sure you’re looking good,” she said. “And if you’re with somebody you’re not supposed to be with, well, you need to know there are a lot of cameras.”

On Saturday, the show recorded at Jim & Samella’s House, Talbert Fleming’s restaurant on Bullington in South Memphis. Rosenthal was particularly impressed with Fleming’s deep-fried lobster tail and waffles at the restaurant.

Jim & Samella’s House turns 6, reopens Aug. 1

“It was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted,” he said. “When you travel there are places you go that you know you’ll visit again, and Jim & Samella’s is one of those places.”

JENNIFER BIGGS: Taste of the Boulevard brings out the crowd

Fleming’s oxtail dressing is one of his signature items, but it’s about as scarce as hen’s teeth. He made a pan to bring to the church for Rosenthal and a few other people to taste, but he didn’t enter it in competition.

“Not only did I think it was excellent, I think it could’ve won if he’d entered it,” Rosenthal said.

Before sending everyone home with full bellies, Harris got on the stage to announce first, that he was robbed as he was going home without a trophy (he’s won six times), and to take a moment to remember Gary Williams, the chef at Krewe of DejaVu who died last year a few weeks after competing in Taste of the Boulevard.

JENNIFER BIGGS: Jim & Samella's House turns 6, reopens next month

“Life is filled with swift transitions and it seems like each year we’re missing someone,” he said. “It just happens that way in this life.”

A plaque in memory of Williams will be presented to his family.