CHEFS FROM AROUND U.S. WILL VISIT NEW ORLEANS
FOR EIGHTH ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN SEAFOOD COOK-OFF
Chef & TV Personality Kevin Roberts to MC Along with Chef John Folse
NEW ORLEANS (July 21, 2011) – 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 the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (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 we 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.
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 14 chefs registered representing such states as Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia. The 2011 Great American Seafood Cook Off is endorsed by the National Restaurant Association and will be audited by the National Fisheries Institute.
Judging the 2011 competition are: Patricia Mack, food journalist and regional editor for Gayot.com; Chef Rick Moonen, an advocate for sustainable seafood, restaurateur, cookbook author and finalist in Top Chef Masters; Laura McIntosh, host of traveling cooking show Bringing It Home; Chef Roland Schaefer of the American Academy of Chefs; Melissa Kogut, executive director of the Chefs Collaborative, and Will Blunt, managing editor of StarChefs.com.
The Great American Seafood Cook Off will take place on Saturday, August 6th at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans during the Louisiana Foodservice Expo. The Cook-Off is open to the public and tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. Opening ceremonies begin at 11:30 a.m. and closing ceremonies will be at 4 p.m. Participating chefs will create unique dishes with domestic seafood, and utilize fish that’s native to their home state.
Prior winners of the Great American Seafood Cook Off include Dean Max of 3030 Ocean in Fort Lauderdale, FL; Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans; John Currence of City Grocery in Oxford, MS; Tim Thomas of the Ocean Forest Golf Club in Sea Island, GA; Justin Timineri, Executive Chef for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Randy Evans of Brennan’s of Houston, and John Besh of Restaurant August in New Orleans.
Great American Seafood Cook Off sponsors include NOAA and FishWatch, Loubat Food Service Equipment, The Louisiana Restaurant Association, LouisianaTravel.com, Budweiser , Southwest Cargo, Tabasco, and Whole Foods Market. The event also receives support from the National Fisheries Institute, Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation,, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Royal Sonesta Hotel, Waterford Crystal, Hammer Stahl, Bayou Classic Cookware, A special thanks also to media sponsors, Culinary Concierge, Gulfscapes Magazine, Louisiana Cookin’ and Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
More information is available at www.GreatAmericanSeafoodCookoff.com.
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One Comment
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