Local Chefs Compete to Represent Utah at Great American Seafood Cook-off

SALT LAKE CITY – The fact that Utah is a landlocked state doesn’t stop local chefs from impressing diners with creative, fresh seafood dishes.  Five popular chefs will showcase their best seafood dish with the hopes of winning a trip to New Orleans to represent the Beehive State at the 2016 Great American Seafood Cook-off [i].  

Each chef has one hour to prepare and plate a seafood dish for the judges. Chefs are required to use domestic seafood from a sustainable fishery as their primary ingredient.  The use of other local ingredients, including those produced by Utah’s Own™ member companies, is encouraged.

What: Utah Selection Competition for the 2016 Great American Seafood Cook-off
When: Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Where: Demonstration kitchen at Harmon’s City Creek (135 E. 100 S. in Salt Lake City) 
Time: Cooking begins at 10:30 a.m. Winner announced at 1:00 p.m.

Media are invited to cover the cook-off, including live shots. The demonstration kitchen and judging area can accommodate multiple media outlets and cameras for filming during the event. Individual interviews with the winning chef, other competitors, and judges will be available after the event. Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox may have limited availability.

Competing Chefs:

• Matt Anderson, Kimi’s Chop & Oyster House
• Logen Crew, Current Fish & Oyster
• Matt Lake, Alamexo
• Frederick Perez, Del Mar al Lago
• Lorin Smaha, Freshie’s Lobster Company 

Judges:

• Spencer J. Cox, Utah Lieutenant Governor
• Jorge Fierro, Owner of Rico’s Brand on behalf of Utah’s Own™
• Briar Handly [ii], Chef/Owner of Handle in Park City and HSL in Salt Lake City
• Melva Sine, President & CEO of Utah Restaurant Association