Shreveport chef selected to participate in Louisiana Seafood Cook-off

The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board has announced the chefs participating in the 16th Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off (LASCO), and a chef from Shreveport has been shortlisted.

For the first time, the competition will take place in Lake Charles on Tuesday June 27th. The 12 selected chefs from across the state will compete for the title of Louisiana Seafood King or Queen.

“Each year, it becomes more and more difficult to choose only 12 chefs from all the exceptional nominations we receive. It shows the incredible level of culinary talent we have in Louisiana,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “Our food connects us to our heritage, and Louisiana seafood is a big part of that connection. The majority of competing chefs over the years learned to cook in their parents’ kitchens. It’s not different with this year’s chefs.”

The chefs participating in the 2023 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off are:

• Ashley Allen, Executive Chef, Coconuts Bar and Grill – Vidalia

• Stephen Coblentz, Executive Chef, Charthouse – Lake Charles

• Ben Fidelak, Executive Chef/Owner, Mariner’s Restaurant – Natchitoches

• Dustin Frederick, Chef, Calla Restaurant – Lake Charles

• Greg Gizzaffi, Executive Chef, Landry’s Seafood House – Lake Charles

• Owen Hohl, Chief, Hot Tails – New Roads and Prairieville

• Blake Jackson, Executive Chef, Drake Foods LLC, Looosiana Seafood Market, Drake Catering, Whisk Dessert Bar – Shreveport

• Brett Monteleone, the Overpass Merchant – Red Stick

• Chris Motto, Executive Chef, Jubans – Red Stick

• Chad Phares, Executive Chef, Hurricane Hole – big island

• Amy Sins, Chef, Langlois – New Orleans

• Christopher Vazquez, Executive Chef, Redfish Grill – New Orleans

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To be eligible to compete, a chef must be the executive chef of an independent Louisiana restaurant that belongs to the Louisiana Restaurant Association.

In addition to earning the title of Louisiana Seafood King or Queen, the winner will represent the state at various events, including the Great American Seafood Cook-Off, hosted by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board.

The story continues

“I’m not only looking forward to seeing the incredible culinary creations our chefs serve up to the judges, but I’m thrilled to be bringing this competition to Lake Charles for the first time, the home of our Queen of Louisiana, Seafood Chef, Amanda Cusey,” Nungesser said.

To learn more about this event, including how to purchase tickets, visit the Golden Nugget Lake Charles website.

Meredith G. White is an arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Meet the Chefs Competing at the 2023 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off