Chef Cory Bahr to Represent Louisiana in Great American Seafood Cook-Off
Cory Bahr, executive chef of Restaurant Sage in Monroe, will represent the state of Louisiana at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans on Saturday, August 6.
Chef Cory Bahr after his win at the 2011 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off.
Bahr won the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off earlier this year to secure his spot in the August 6th event — one of the most prestigious culinary competitions in the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the prime sponsor for the Great American Seafood Cook-Off, which emphasizes the importance of cooking with domestic and sustainable seafood.
In New Orleans, Bahr will compete against more than a dozen top seafood chefs from across the country for the title of “King” or “Queen” of American Seafood. The chefs will showcase sustainable fish and shellfish that are native to their home states.
“We are thrilled that Chef Bahr and talented chefs from across the nation are joining us to showcase the array of seafood that comes from American coasts, rivers and lakes,” said Ewell Smith, executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, which produces the cook-off.
“As a Louisianan, seafood has always been central to my creations in the kitchen,” said Bahr, a native of Monroe. “One advantage we have in Louisiana is our seafood is abundant throughout the year. In fact, each season brings with it a new seafood harvest, and this makes my job particularly exciting.”
Raised in Louisiana, Bahr apprenticed in kitchens from Atlanta to New Orleans before returning to Monroe full-time. He credits his grandmother as the single biggest contributor to his culinary inspiration, and says he’s been cooking with Louisiana ingredients since childhood.
Bahr created a “North Delta Bouillabaisse” at the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off in May, and he intends to prepare a variation of this winning dish at the national competition on August 6.
Earlier this year, organizers of The Great American Seafood Cook-Off encouraged states to hold a qualifying round or appoint a chef to compete in the event. Currently, 14 chefs are registered, representing states from Alabama to Maine.
Judging the 2011 competition are:
- Patricia Mack, food journalist and regional editor for Gayot.com
- Chef Rick Moonen, an advocate for sustainable seafood, restaurateur, cookbook author and finalist in Top Chef Masters
- Laura McIntosh, host of traveling cooking show Bringing It Home
- Chef Roland Schaefer of the American Academy of Chefs
- Melissa Kogut, executive director of the Chefs Collaborative
- Will Blunt, managing editor of StarChefs.com
The Great American Seafood Cook-Off takes place on Saturday, August 6th at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans during the Louisiana Foodservice Expo. Opening ceremonies will be at 11:30 and the winner will be announced at 4 p.m.
Category: Chefs & Experts
