July 23, 2008
Joe’s Stone Crab Chef Andre Bienvenu To Represent Florida At 2008 Great American Seafood Cook-Off
Andre Bienvenu, executive chef of Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach, is heading north to represent Florida seafood at the 5th Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans on August 2 and 3. Chef Andre will take his signature Florida seafood recipes to challenge chefs from 20 states for the title “King/Queen of American Seafood 2008” and to prove that Florida’s seafood is the best of all.
Chef Andre is featuring Florida stone crab, spiny lobster, shrimp, snapper and farm-raised clams in the Florida cuisine that makes Joe’s Stone Crab famous and the busiest independent single restaurant in America. Florida’s participation is sponsored this year by Joe’s Stone Crab and the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation.
Bienvenu is one of today’s premier chefs as evidenced by his professional career. He has a culinary arts degree from Johnson & Wales University and extensive hotel and restaurant experience. Before joining Joe’s Stone Crab 11 years ago, he spent 10 years with Hyatt Hotels establishing successful culinary operations for their properties in Chicago, Kansas City, Denver and Washington, D.C. Andre is no stranger to culinary competitions; he has won gold medals in regional competitions and silver and bronze medals in national competitions. He has also appeared on the Food Network, been featured in several cookbooks and is currently working on his own cookbook.
The Great American Seafood Cook-Off, presented each year by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), spotlights domestic seafood that is readily available for the home consumer. The 20 chefs will prepare two entrees featuring seafood from their home states for judging. On day one the chefs will prepare their restaurant-style recipes, with the top five finalists advancing to day two where they will prepare their consumer-friendly home-style recipes for judging to determine the title winner. The judges from all corners of the country will include the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Executive Chef Justin Timineri, winner of the 3rd Great American Seafood Cook-Off.
For event details visit www.GreatAmericanSeafoodCookOff.com. For recipes and information about Florida seafood, visit www.FL-Seafood.com.
For more information:
Barbera Turnbull
(850) 488-0163
turnbub@doacs.state.fl.us
