Tim Thomas, of Georgia, Crowned 2007 King of American Seafood
With the Brazilian sounds of Casa Samba vibrating in the huge hall and a performer dressed in tails dancing while expertly sliding wands of fire down her throat, the opening of the final day of the 2007 Great American Seafood Cook-Off could not have been hotter!
The Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board (LSPMB) presented the fourth annual Cook-Off at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans on August 4 – 5. Select chefs from coast to coast showcased their art, the value of domestic seafood, and the simplicity of cooking seafood at home. Open to the public for the first time, Day 2 was all about the home cook.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was the announcement of the six finalists from Day 1 who would compete for the title of King or Queen of American Seafood. The nineteen chefs were on pins and needles.
John Connelly, president of National Fisheries Institute and auditor for the event, called out the states: Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Massachusetts. He explained that the challenge for Day 2 was to cook a home-style dish for today’s busy home cook in just forty-five minutes.
