BATON ROUGE, La (press release) – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board continue the search for chefs who want to participate in the 13th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off for the honor of being crowned King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood. Traditionally held in mid to late June in conjunction with Lafayette’s kick-off to their summer restaurant campaign, the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off has been postponed due to the pandemic. This year’s event is now scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at the Cajundome Convention Center in Lafayette. Chefs from across the state who meet the eligibility standards are invited to submit their applications by Friday, July 13, 2020, deadline.
“This move to late summer will serve as a celebration of our state’s talented chefs’ return to their kitchens. It’s also a chance to highlight the re-opening of the many unique restaurants not just in Lafayette, but around Louisiana, as we work to be able to safely welcome visitors back to our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “Louisiana is a place where you can Feed Your Soul with great seafood found in our largest cities all the way to our smallest towns. The winner of the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off plays a very important role in educating people from around the world on the flavor and sustainability of Louisiana seafood, which is a core piece of our culture, from fine dining to backyard boils.”
For the fourth consecutive year the event is being held in Lafayette, the city said to have more restaurants per capita than any other American city. Many of the restaurants that have helped earn those titles will be a part of the event serving samples to spectators celebrating Eat Lafayette, which will take place in conjunction with the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off.
Safety
The well-being of our competing chefs, judges, and guests will be our top priority. The Louisiana Seafood Board will take extra precautions to create a safe environment for all who attend the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off and Taste of EatLafayette reception. The Louisiana Seafood Board will follow all guidelines set forth by state regulations and Centers for Disease Control recommendations.
Specific precautions
Our chefs always compete 6’ (six feet) apart. Additionally, new floor plans will be put in place to adhere to social distancing. Enhanced food sanitation and safety protocols will be used for chefs and judges. Organizers will be required to wear facemasks and safety signage will be posted throughout the venue.
Previous winners of the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off include:
- 2008: Brian Landry
- 2009: Tory McPhail
- 2010: Chris Lusk
- 2011: Cory Bahr
- 2012: Keith and Nealy Frentz
- 2013: Cody and Samantha Carroll
- 2014: Aaron Burgau
- 2015: Michael Brewer
- 2016: Blake Phillips
- 2017: Bonnie Breaux
- 2018: Ryan Trahan
- 2019: Nathan Richard
Entrants must be an executive chef for a free-standing Louisiana restaurant belonging to the Louisiana Restaurant Association, a proud partner in both the Louisiana and Great American Seafood Cook-Offs. Entry forms, information on previous cook-offs, and updates on the event may be found at LouisianaSeafood.com.
Follow @LaSeafoodBoard on Instagram and Twitter and keep up will all Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off (LASCO) events via the official hashtag, #LASCO20.
