Alabama Seafood Cook-Off

The 9th annual Alabama Seafood Cook-Off (ASCO) is back and bigger than ever! 

It 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).

The 2024 ASCO competition is open to the public, so join in on May 6 at 6 p.m. 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.

For this year's competition, the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission is celebrating the competition with a weekend of events that fosters connection among longtime 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.

Information for Interested Chefs

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.

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:

• Presentation, General Impression and Serving Methods
• Creativity and Practicality
• Composition and Harmony of Ingredients
• Correct Preparation and Craftsmanship
• Flavor, Taste and Texture

*Note, dishes must represent the original recipe submitted at the time of registration.

These five categories are the same criteria used in the national GASCO and help prepare the 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.

If you’re a chef interested in competing, make sure you fill out your registration form by April 10. You can find the form by clicking the Visit Event Website link below.