NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board crowned Chef Brody Olive of Voyagers at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama, King of American Seafood after winning the 2023 Annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off on Saturday, August 5, in New Orleans. The 19th annual event was held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in conjunction with the Louisiana Restaurant Association Showcase.
To win the crown, Chef Brody Olive prepared Gafftop catfish smoked over scrub oak, flash-fried mole crabs with Gulf shrimp horseradish cream, pickled purslane and smoked paprika coral tuile. Chef Olive previously competed in 2017.
“It feels great. All the hard work finally paid off for us. I'm so happy our dish came together and we were so happy to present it and be on this stage with the quality of these chefs which is remarkable," said Chef Brody Olive, 2023 King of American Seafood.
“The competition was tough. The competing chefs cooked great meals. They taste great and look great and they do this all in one hour. My hat is off to the champion. We have crowned a great champion in Louisiana today,” said Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
Coming in second place was Alaska Chef Nathan Bentley from Altura Bistro in Anchorage, AK, with his Alaska King Crab merus, prosciutto, and saffron-carrot foam. Ohio Chef Christian Gill from Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey in Cincinnati, OH, took third with his Moraccan razor clam and Red Shrimp ceviche.
Judging the dishes for the 2023 Great American Seafood Cook-Off were: Chef Jim Smith, Chairman of the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission and former King of American Seafood; Chef Ari Miller, acclaimed chef and restaurant owner now a private chef based in New York City; Chef Kiki Aranita, a chef, food writer, sauce entrepreneur, and recipe developer; and, Michael Benedict, CEO of Benedict Advertising and owner of Parker Stark Restaurant Group.
The Great American Seafood Cook-Off, which is dedicated to promoting sustainable and domestic fisheries, has been held every year in New Orleans since 2004. Previous winners of the Great American Seafood Cook-Off include:
- 2022: Erin Miller, Massachusetts
- 2021: Austin Sumrall, Mississippi
- 2019: Nathan Richard, Louisiana
- 2018: Ryan Trahan, Louisiana
- 2017: Lionel Uddipa, Alaska
- 2016: Alex Eaton, Mississippi
- 2015: Beau Schooler, Alaska
- 2014: Terry White, Florida
- 2013: David Crews, Mississippi
- 2012: Gregory Gourdet, Oregon
- 2011: Jim Smith, Alabama
- 2010: Dean Max, Florida
- 2009: Tory McPhail, Louisiana
- 2008: John Currence, Mississippi
- 2007: Tim Thomas, Georgia
- 2006: Justin Timineri, Florida
- 2005: Randy Evans, Texas
For more information on the competition, visit www.louisianaseafood.com/great-american-seafood-cook.