(Biloxi, MS) April 1, 2013 – Mississippi Seafood Marketing Program (MSMP) is thrilled to announce plans for the 4th Annual Mississippi Seafood Cook-Off held Friday, May 31st in Biloxi, Mississippi. This regional cooking competition will showcase Mississippi’s talented chefs during a four-hour long cook-off. The competing chefs will present their unique, signature dishes highlighting fresh, sustainable Mississippi Gulf Seafood to a select group of prominent local judges. Only twelve chefs will be selected to participate and interested chefs have until April 15th to send in their entry form.
The twelve lucky chefs will each compete for the title of “King” or “Queen” of Mississippi Seafood. In order to compete, participants must hold the title of Executive Chef at a restaurant located in Mississippi. Each chef will be responsible for plating up to six entrées for judges with Mississippi Seafood featured as the main protein. The food will be judged on taste, as well as execution of skills, creativity and presentation.
The winning chef will have the prestigious honor of representing Mississippi in the Great American Seafood Cook-Off (GASCO) in New Orleans on August 3, 2013. GASCO pits top chefs from around the country against one another, each tasked with the goal of creating the most delicious, signature dish using domestic seafood native to their state.
“We could not be more excited to see how Mississippi’s top chefs cook up our fresh, premium Gulf Seafood,” said Irvin Jackson, Director of the MSMP. “The Annual Mississippi Seafood Cook-Off provides a great opportunity to bring awareness to our rich seafood heritage, especially since the event coincides with Biloxi’s 84th Annual Blessing of the Fleet and the start to this year’s shrimp season. We are really looking forward to some truly original, inspired dishes by our highly skilled chefs.”
The Annual Mississippi Seafood Cook-Off celebrates Mississippi’s top chefs and encourages them to get creative with Mississippi’s flavorful, wild-caught gulf seafood. Entry forms are currently being accepted until Monday, April 15th. Once submission is over, the twelve chosen contestants will be notified on Monday, April 22nd.
To download the 2013 Great Mississippi Seafood Cook-Off Application, please click here.
For our official rules, please click here.