2023 King of Louisiana Seafood Crowned in Lake Charles

Last night the air around the Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles was filled with even more excitement than usual as a dozen chefs from around Louisiana assembled with pans, skillets, and decades of culinary know-how to compete for the title of King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood.

The 16th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off was hosted in Lake Charles for the first time last night as some of the state's top chef's all competed for the chance to represent Louisiana in the Great American Seafood Cook-Off. That event will be held in New Orleans on August 5th.

KPLC Television in Lake Charles compiled this list of the Seafood Cook-Off competitors and their home restaurants.

• Ashley Allen, executive chef of Coconuts Bar and Grill in Vidalia
• Stephen Coblentz, executive chef of Chart House in Lake Charles
• Ben Fidelak, executive chef/owner of Mariner’s Restaurant in Natchitoches
• Dustin Frederick, chef at Restaurant Calla in Lake Charles
• Greg Gizzaffi, executive chef of Landry’s Seafood House in Lake Charles
• Owen Hohl, chef at Hot Tails in New Roads and Prairieville
• Blake Jackson, executive chef of Drake Foods, LLC – Looosiana Seafood Market, Drake Catering, Whisk Dessert Bar in Shreveport
• Brett Monteleone, chef at The Overpass Merchant in Baton Rouge
• Chris Motto, executive chef of Jubans in Baton Rouge
• Chad Phares, executive chef of Hurricane Hole in Grand Isle
• Amy Sins, chef at Langlois in New Orleans
• Christopher Vazquez, executive chef of Redfish Grill in New Orleans.

Oddly enough this year's competition did not feature any chefs from the Lafayette or Acadiana area. Lafayette has hosted the Seafood Cook-Off for the past five years. But despite the lack of representation from the heart of Acadiana, the food, from what we understand was amazing and the judges really had their work cut out for them when it came to choosing a winner.

If you were unable to discern what the announcer in the video was saying, we'll repeat it for you. Congratulations to Chef Owen Hohl. He is the chef at Hot Tails in New Roads and Prairieville. Chef Hohl prepared a plantain scalloped grouper over a sweet potato and yucca puree with a coconut and crawfish foam over the top.

Tuesday night's Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off was held in conjunction with Chuck Tastes Restaurant Night which served as a spotlight event on different cuisines and cooking styles available in the Lake Charles area.

Congratulations to Chef Hohl and all of the participants in this year's Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off and best of luck in representing Louisiana Seafood in the Great American Seasfood Cook-Off in New Orleans in August.