GULF SHORES, AL – Alabama Gulf Seafood is searching for its 2016 Alabama Seafood Cook-Off champion, with organizers announcing that the second annual event is set for May 25 at The Wharf in Orange Beach.

Submissions are now open, and interested chef teams statewide have until Monday, to register. Finalists will be announced in late April.

The winner of the May 25 event will go on to represent the state of Alabama in the 13th Annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off (GASCO) in New Orleans and will be an automatic qualifier in the 2016 World Food Championship, also to be at The Wharf, with both events scheduled for later this year.

Alabama Seafood Cook-Off event judges and emcee will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Last year’s inaugural event drew chef team applicants from across Alabama, with our winner, Chef George Reis of Birmingham, moving on to represent us on a national level,” Chef Jim Smith, chairman of the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission said. “We look forward to even more Alabama Gulf Seafood team submissions and recipes this year.”

Competition scoring for chef teams (one lead chef plus one assistant) will be judged based on presentation, general impression and serving methods; creativity and practicality; composition and harmony of ingredients; correct preparation and craftsmanship; and flavor, taste and texture.

These same parameters will also be used to judge recipes at GASCO later this year.

Event rules and a downloadable submission form can be accessed at EatAlabamaSeafood.com. Completed contest registration forms – and a recipe containing Alabama Gulf Seafood as the featured ingredient – must be submitted to info@eatalabamaseafood.com by Monday, April 4. Finalists will be selected by late April to compete at the May 25 event.

ABOUT THE ALABAMA SEAFOOD MARKETING COMMISSION

Established by Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley by executive order signed in March of 2011, the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission (ASMC) was created to help provide advice, oversight, management and encouragement to the marketing of Alabama seafood.

Led by Chris Blankenship, director of the Alabama Marine Resource Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the ASMC is comprised of volunteer members appointed by the Governor that includes fishermen, processors, charter boat operators, retailers, restaurant owners and others directly and indirectly related to the Alabama seafood industry.