Who's the best chef in Louisiana? Here are the competitors in 15th annual Seafood Cook-Off

Josh Archote, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
·3 min read

Twelve chefs will compete for king or queen of Louisiana seafood in the state's 15th annual Seafood Cook-Off in June, the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board announced Wednesday at a news conference.

The cook-off will take place June 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cajundome Convention Center. This is the fifth year the event is being held in Lafayette.

The winner of the cook-off will represent Louisiana in the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans in August, cooking against chefs from around the country.

“The winner of the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off plays a very important role in educating people from around the world on the flavor and sustainability of Louisiana seafood, which is a core piece of our culture, from fine dining to backyard boils,” Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser said in a press release.

This year’s competitors are

  • Ryan Cashio; Cajun House & Catering, LLC; Laplace (First-time Competitor)

  • Amanda Cusey; The Villa Harlequin; Lake Charles (First-time Competitor)

  • Russell Davis; Eliza Restaurant & Bar and JED’S Local Louisiana Po’boys; Baton Rouge (First-time Competitor)

  • David Dickensauge; Tsunami; Baton Rouge (Competed in 2014, 2015)

  • Ben Fidelak; Mariner’s Restaurant; Natchitoches (Competed in 2017, 2020)

  • Ryan Gaudet; Spahr’s Seafood; Des Allemands (Competed in 2015, 2016)

  • Kyle Hudson; Beausoleil Coastal Cuisine; Baton Rouge (First-time Competitor)

  • Karlos Knott; Bayou Teche Brewing & Cajun Saucer; Arnaudville (First-time Competitor)

  • Brett Monteleone; Junior’s on Harrison; New Orleans (First-time Competitor)

  • Amy Sins; Langlois; New Orleans (Competed in 2016, 2019, 2020)

  • Joshua Spell; Fezzo’s Seafood Steakhouse & Oyster Bar; Crowley (First-time Competitor)

  • Grant Wallace; Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse; New Orleans (First-time Competitor)

Eight of the 12 chefs are first-time competitors. Samantha Carroll, executive director of the Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, said there were a record number of applicants this year.

There were no Lafayette-based chef applicants.

Last year's winner: 2021 Louisiana Seafood King of Kings crowned after outcooking 9 past champions

“This event is a great tool to promote buying local,” said Mayor-President Josh Guillory. “One-third of all seafood consumed in the United States comes right here from Louisiana. It’s a major economic driver for the state. And I can tell you it’s a main economic driver for Acadiana.”

This year’s event will return to the traditional format instead of last year’s “King of Kings” competition, when only past winners competed. Last year’s winner was Tory McPhail, a chef and culinary director at restaurants around the U.S., and the former head chef of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans.

Confirmed judges for the 2022 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off include Chef Edgar “Dooky” Chase IV, chef and owner of Dook’s Place in downtown New Orleans, and Celeste Chachere, director of marketing and development for Tony Chachere’s Creole Foods.

“The competition is going to be tough,” Nungesser said. “Get your tickets. You get to eat all the great food from all the great Lafayette restaurants and see some great competition and some great chefs from all over Louisiana.”

Tickets are available for purchase at the Cajundome box office or online for $25 per person.

More: EatLafayette, a campaign to promote Lafayette's food scene, begins Tuesday

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: 12 chefs will fight for king or queen of Louisiana seafood in June