Chefs representing more than a dozen states will gather in New Orleans on August 6th to compete in the eighth annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off.
The event, sponsored by NOAA and presented by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board, is known for pitting up-and-coming chefs against recognized culinary greats from throughout the United States. Prior winners include John Currence of City Grocery in Oxford, MS and John Besh of Restaurant August in New Orleans.
“The Great American Seafood Cook-Off has long drawn incredibly talented chefs and I am excited about the talented line-up we have competing this year,” said Ewell Smith, executive producer of the Cook-Off and executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board. “As will celebrate the talents of these chefs we will also underscore the importance of utilizing domestic seafood at home and requesting domestic seafood when dining out.”
John Folse, the chef known as Louisiana's Culinary Ambassador to the World, will co-host the Great American Seafood Cook-Off with Kevin Roberts, a chef and restaurant owner from Southern California who acts as host for BBQ Pitmasters on TLC.
NOAA's Fisheries Service is the event's chief sponsor and uses the cook-off to highlight – to American seafood consumers – the agency's commitment to a healthy marine environment and improving the nation's domestic seafood supply.
“At NOAA, we emphasize that U.S. seafood is healthy, safe, and good for you,” said Eric Schwaab, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator. “Events such as the annual Seafood Cook-off are a terrific way to bring that message right to the public, especially those folks interested in new and creative ways to prepare seafood.”
Chef Dean Max, executive chef at 3030 Ocean in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, was crowned King of American Seafood at last year's Cook-Off and will be on-hand in 2011 to crown this year's winning chef. He will also do cooking demos throughout the day.
The 2011 Great American Seafood Cook Off is endorsed by the National Restaurant Association and will be audited by the National Fisheries Institute.
Earlier this year, organizers of The Great American Seafood Cook-Off encouraged states to hold a qualifying round or appoint a chef to compete in the event. There are currently 13 chefs registered and below is a list of those participating:
Alabama – Chef Jim Smith
Alaska – Chef Erik Slater
Illinois – Chef Greg Volle
Kentucky – Chef Jeremy Ashby
Louisiana – Chef Cory Bahr
Mississippi – Chef Heath Johnson
New Jersey – Chef Scott Anderson
North Carolina – Bud Grunninger
Oregon – Chef Erol Kanmaz
South Carolina – Chef Corbett Rourk
Texas – Chef Chris Shepherd
West Virginia – Chef Ed Fischer
This story is reproduced with permission from SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site.