Chef Ryan Trahan Crowned 2018 King Of Louisiana Seafood

Twelve of Louisiana’s Top Chefs battled for the prestigious King of Louisiana Seafood title at the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off hosted by Lt. Gov. Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board.

Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board (LSPMB) crowned Chef Trahan of Blue Dog Café in Lafayette as the 2018 King of Louisiana Seafood at the 11th annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off, held at the Cajundome Convention Center in conjunction with A Taste of Eat Lafayette.

To earn the crown, Chef Trahan prepared a “Cracklin” Crusted Red Snapper with Pickled Crawfish Tails, Buttermilk Chili Consommé, Spring Vegetables, Burnt Leek Oil, Fermented Cream and Bowfin Caviar, beating eleven of the state’s best chefs by showing his creativity and highlighting the superior quality of the seafood that comes from Louisiana’s nutrient-rich shorelines.

“We are thrilled to name Chef Ryan Trahan the 2018 King of Louisiana Seafood,” said Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “ I look forward to working with him to represent the great state of Louisiana and our one of a kind, world famous Louisiana seafood… this is going to be an exciting year filled with opportunities to showcase our fresh Gulf seafood to the world.”

Chef Trahan’s first duty as King of Louisiana Seafood will be to represent the state at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off held on Aug. 4 in New Orleans, where he will compete against the nation’s top seafood chefs.

Chef Joshua Hebert of The Cabin Restaurant in Gonzales was named runner-up of the culinary competition with Gulf Fish, Smoked Crab Cake, Tomato Jam and Corn Salad. Closely behind was Paul Gibson of Pont Breaux’s Cajun Restaurant in Breaux Bridge, who prepared Mardi Gras Speckled Trout.

Chef Cory Bahr, 2011 King of Louisiana Seafood who competed to be named Food Network’s “Next Food Network Star,” and KLFY-TV reporter and foodie Gerald Gruenig hosted this year’s competition.

Each dish was scrutinized by some of Louisiana's most seasoned chefs and food lovers, including “The Bitter Socialite” Chef Trace Barnett, owner of Drago’s Seafood Restaurant Tommy Cvitanovich, Chef Jay Ducote of Bite and Booze and Gov’t Taco, local food blogger Rudy Raphael of “Rudy Da Food,” local caterer Carroll Angelle, and former State Rep. and Secretary of State Candidate Julie Stokes. The 2015 King of Louisiana Seafood, Mike Brewer, served as “Chef Ref,” ensuring each of the competing chefs followed all cook-off rules and the dishes fulfilled all requirements.

This year’s competitors were:

·        Chef Justin Ferguson, Baton Rouge (BRQ Restaurant)

·        Chef Noah Lessard, Baton Rouge (Ruffino’s)

·        Chef Paul Gibson, Breaux Bridge (Pont Breaux’s Cajun Restaurant)

·        Chef Scott McCue, Charenton (Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel)

·        Chef Joshua Hebert, Gonzales (The Cabin Restaurant)

·        Chef Kris Allen, Lafayette (Pamplona Tapas Bar & Restaurant)

·        Chef Ryan Trahan, Lafayette (Blue Dog Café)

·        Chef Justin East, Lake Charles (Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse at the Golden Nugget)

·        Chef Paige Lucas, Marksville (Pork Belly’s Bar and Grill)

·        Chef Richard Brennan III, New Orleans (Bourbon House)

·        Chef Anthony Felan, Shreveport (Fat Calf Boucherie)

·        Chef Nick Simons, Shreveport (Wine Country Bistro)

Those inspired by the chefs’ culinary creativity and looking to bring the state’s best seafood dishes to their own kitchen can visit www.LouisianaSeafood.com for recipes of each competing dish. To keep up with Louisiana Seafood throughout the year, follow @LaSeafoodBoard on Instagram and Twitter and at www.facebook.com/louisianaseafood.