CHEF JOHN BESH CROWNED KING OF AMERICAN SEAFOOD

NOAA’s Bill Hogarth Presents Trophies to Louisiana, Delaware and Maryland Chefs

New Orleans, LA – Chef John Besh of Restaurant August in New Orleans won the 2004 Great American Seafood Cook Off on Saturday, July 31, 2004. Besh competed against noted chefs from throughout America, each representing his or her state in the Great American Seafood Cook Off, which occurred at the Louisiana Foodservice Expo, and highlighted the quality and significance of domestic seafood.

John Connelly of the National Fisheries Institute oversaw a panel of distinguished judges including: Michel Richard of Citronelle and Robert Wiedmaier of Marcel’s in Washington DC; Greg Sonnier of Gabrielle in New Orleans; and Christopher Koetke of Kendall College of Culinary Arts in Chicago. William Hogarth of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) presented trophies to the winners.

Delaware chef David Leo Banks placed second with a preparation of Pan Seared Wild Rockfish and Soft Shell Crab Tempura and Maryland’s Chef Rudy Speckamp secured third place with “Treasures of the Chesapeake.” Chefs were required to utilize only domestic seafood, and the event was especially designed to raise awareness of the superior quality of seafood that comes from American waters.

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