Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board will welcome Louisiana’s own Chef Ryan Trahan of Blue Dog Cafe in Lafayette, along with 11 other chefs from across the country, to the nation’s ultimate seafood cooking competition. The 2018 Great American Seafood Cook-Off will be held in New Orleans at the Ernest Morial Convention Center Aug. 4, 2018, at 11:30 a.m., in front of a live audience and panel of nationally-acclaimed judges.

“The Great American Seafood Cook-Off is the perfect stage to celebrate Louisiana and America’s domestic seafood – the best in the world,” said Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser. “We’re eager to watch these great chefs from all over the country – including our own Chef Ryan Trahan, our current King of Louisiana Seafood – show off their talent and best seafood dish right here in New Orleans.”

During the competition, each chef will prepare a dish that highlights the use of domestic seafood while interacting with a live audience; celebrity hosts Chef Cory Bahr and KLFY-TV reporter Gerald Gruenig; and “chef ref” and former King of Louisiana Seafood Chef Michael Brewer. Each dish will be presented to a panel of nationally known judges, who will score based on presentation, creativity, composition, craftsmanship and flavor. In its 15^th year, the 2018 Great American Seafood Cook-Off continues to promote the quality and variety of domestic seafood.

The Louisiana lieutenant governor invites chefs via the nation’s lieutenant governors in other states to compete in the competition. The Louisiana Seafood Board assists in the selection process of all competitors.