New Orleans – In Louisiana, seafood reigns, and on May 29 in the Louisiana Superdome, one talented Louisiana chef will become royalty.
The third annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off hosted by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board (LSPMB) will take place at the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience’s (NOWFE) Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 29 in the Louisiana Superdome. This year’s chef line-up includes eleven chefs from all across the state and the competition’s first ever female competitor, Chef Diana Chauvin of La Thai Uptown in New Orleans.
Joining Chauvin for this ultimate seafood showdown will be Chef Matthew Beaudin of Le Café at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles; Chef Austin Harrell of Mansurs of the Boulevard in Baton Rouge; Chef Minh Le of Spahr’s Seafood in Des Allemands; Chef Chris Lusk of Café Adelaide in New Orleans; Chef Miles Prescott of RioMar in New Orleans; Chef John Salmon of Bossier Parish Community College and Smoked Salmon Catering in Bossier City; Chef Anthony J. Spizale of The Rib Room at OMNI Royal Hotel in New Orleans; Chef Henry Rodriguez of 1800° Prime Steakhouse at Boomtown Casino and Hotel in Bossier City; Chef Thomas Woods of Maximos Italian Grill New Orleans; and Chef Jude Tauzin of Village Café in Lafayette.
“The excitement and competition that surrounds the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off is captivating, attendees of the NOWFE Grand Tasting are able to enjoy wines from around the world, cuisine from more than 75 Louisiana Restaurants and look on as these incredible chefs battle for the coveted title of King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood,” said Ewell Smith, executive director of LSPMB.
The chefs will have their Louisiana seafood dishes underway when guests arrive for the NOWFE Grand Tasting at 2 p.m. Winners will be announced at the closing ceremony beginning at 4:30 p.m. The winning chef of Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off will represent Louisiana in the seventh annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off on August 7 at the Louisiana Foodservice EXPO in the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. The Great American Seafood Cook-Off is also presented by LSPMB and is the nation’s most prestigious seafood competition showcasing domestic, sustainable seafood and features premiere chefs from across the nation. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA) is a primary sponsor for the two day event.
NOWFE’s Saturday Grand Tasting Event and the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off are dedicated to Louisiana fishermen as they face unique challenges with the current situation in the Gulf. “In Louisiana, seafood is at the center of our culture and traditions,” said Smith. “ At NOWFE’s Grand Tasting and the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off, we are going to be celebrating our seafood, the fishermen who harvest and catch it and the talented chefs who use it to create memorable meals for us.”
Participants in the NOWFE Grand Tasting event, which pairs offerings from New Orleans’ finest chefs with wine from around the world, will be able to view the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off.
Source: Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board