FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2008



Contact: Ashley Roth, 228-342-0659 or Ashley@LouisianaSeafood.com

Communications Manager



The Competition is Heating Up for the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off



New Orleans –Twelve of Louisiana’s most talented chefs are sharpening their knives, because Saturday’s Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off presented by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board (LSPMB) is drawing near. Doors open at 1 p.m., on May 24, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.



The competition is presented as part of the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) Grand Tasting event. Each chef will have up to one hour to stir, sizzle and sauté their Louisiana seafood dish. At 3:30 p.m., after the judges have tasted and tallied, one lucky chef will be crowned King of Louisiana Seafood.



“We have been talking with the chefs all week about their Louisiana seafood dishes, some chefs are putting new takes on old favorites and some are creating dishes unlike any I have ever heard of, ” said Ewell Smith, executive director of LSPMB. “The judges are going to have to make some very tough decisions.”



Chefs participating in the cook-off are Justin Devillier of La Petite Grocery in New Orleans, Paul Gibson of Bonnie Bell’s Bistro in Lafayette, Ernest Prejean of Prejean’s in Lafayette, Brian Landry of Galatoire’s in New Orleans, Jorg Limper of L’Auberge du Lac in Lake Charles, Duke LoCicero of Café Giovanni in New Orleans, Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, Fred Nonato of Tsunami Restaurant in Baton Rouge, Phil O’Donnell of O’Donnell’s Restaurant in Ponchatoula, Brian Smith of Randol’s Restaurant in Lafayette, Scott Varnedoe of Varnedoe’s at the Myrtles in St. Francisville and William Wells of Culinary Productions in Baton Rouge.



Lorin Gaudin, Food Goddess and food radio host on 99.5FM WRNO will be the mistress of ceremonies for this year’s cook-off. This year’s judges include Ralph Brennan of Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, Chef Frank Brigtsen of Brigtsen’s restaurant in New Orleans, Chef Tenney Flynn of GW Fins in New Orleans and Charlotte N.C., Hope S. Philbrick, freelance writer and editor specializing in travel, food, wine and spirits and Mark A. Newman, Editor in Chief of Southern Breeze magazine.



The winning chef of the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off will represent Louisiana in the fifth annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off (GASCO) on August 2 and 3 at the Louisiana Foodservice EXPO in the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. GASCO 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.



Sponsors for the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off include the Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor (OLG), the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism (CRT), the Louisiana Office of Tourism (LOT), the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA), NOAA and FishWatch, Shell, Culinary Concierge and New Orleans Magazine.



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. Tickets can be purchased at www.NOWFE.com.



For more information about the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off, visit www.LouisianaSeafood.com.



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Ashley Roth

Communications Manager

Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board

ashley@louisianaseafood.com

(o) 504-283-8292 (f) 504-283-9468



2021 Lakeshore Dr., Suite 300

New Orleans, Louisiana 70122

louisianaseafood.com