Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – The Gulf Shores area has some of the best Chefs in the State. Each year they get a chance to prove who is best in seafood dishes. For this year's competition, the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission is celebrating the competition with a weekend of events that fosters connection among long-time industry professionals with up-and-coming chefs in the Alabama restaurant community. Competing chefs will have the opportunity to meet and learn from some of Alabama’s leading professionals in the culinary industry during multi-day events amidst one of Alabama’s best seafood backdrops — the Gulf.

Beginning Sunday, May 5, competing chefs and industry veterans will join at Heron Pointe for a Gulf seafood-centered welcome dinner. The evening will commence with remarks from well-known professionals of the seafood industry and will allow for competing chefs, judges, and industry professionals alike to become acquainted with one another before the main event the following day.

The 9th annual Alabama Seafood Cook-Off will be held at The Wharf on Monday, May 6. Four anonymously selected chef teams will compete for a chance to win the ‘Best Chef in the State' title and a trip to New Orleans to participate in the national Great American Seafood Cook-Off (GASCO).

All Alabama chefs are encouraged to submit for a chance to be selected as a competition participant. Chef teams are selected based on recipe submissions — made anonymous to a panel of judges — that highlight Alabama Gulf Seafood.

Since the start of ASCO, dishes at the competition are judged on the following criteria: *Note, dishes must represent the original recipe submitted at the time of registration.

• Presentation, General Impression and Serving Methods

• Creativity and Practicality

• Composition and Harmony of Ingredients

• Correct Preparation and Craftsmanship

• Flavor, Taste and Texture

These five categories are the same criteria used in the national Great American Seafood Cook-Off GASCO and help prepare our winning Alabama chef for the national competition. Each category is worth up to 20 points for a total of 100 points.

The 2023 ASCO and GASCO winner, Chef Brody Olive, will serve as a judge alongside a team of some of Alabama's greatest seafood veterans.

The 2024 ASCO competition is open to the public, so join us on May 6 at 6PM at The Wharf to watch some of Alabama’s greatest chefs compete for a state title and enjoy a night of amazing seafood and unique recipe production.

If you’re a chef interested in competing, make sure you fill out your registration form by April 10.

Click here to register.