Sullivan Zant of Vestal Restaurant in Lafayette is one of the selection of chefs from across the state to represent their areas in the 20th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off.

BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) – A Lafayette chef will go head-to-head to regain local bragging rights, and compete for the title of King of Seafood.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board have announced Sullivan Zant of Vestal Restaurant in Lafayette is one of the selection of chefs from across the state to represent their areas in the 20th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off.

The winner of the Louisiana cook-off will represent the state at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans on Aug. 3, and features chefs from around the country competing for the title of “King or Queen of American Seafood,” a title won in 2018 by Lafayette’s own Ryan Trahan, who won it while at the former Blue Dog Café.

No Lafayette chefs were selected to compete in the 2023 edition of the cook-off.

This year’s competition will be held for the first time in Monroe on May 31, in conjunction with the Up Yonder Food & Wine Festival hosted by Discover Monroe-West Monroe.

"In Louisiana, good food is just part of what connects us to our diverse heritage and seafood is a big part of that in all corners of the state. From recipes passed down through generations to the culinary creations of our state’s chefs, seafood has created a culinary identity for Louisiana unlike any other state,” said Nungesser. “This is a chance for us to celebrate the great contribution chefs around Louisiana and our hard-working seafood industry make to the state that truly 'Feed Your Soul.'”

Chefs competing in the 17th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off include:

• Katy Aker, JAC’s Craft Smokehouse; West Monroe
• Muggsy Beals, Desi Vega’s Steakhouse; New Orleans
• Mac Casteel, Warehouse No. 1 Restaurant; Monroe
• Brent Daigle, Grady V’s; Thibodaux
• Ben Fidelak, Mariner’s Restaurant; Natchitoches
• Kaala Lawla, Boswell’s Jamaican Grill; New Orleans
• Brandon Naquin, Spahr’s Seafood Restaurant; Thibodaux
• Trenton Oliphant, The Depeaux; Independence
• Chase Raley; Parish Restaurant & Bar; Monroe
• Tony Rodrigue, Acme Oyster House; New Orleans
• Frederic Terluin, Rouj Creole; Baton Rouge
• Sullivan Zant, Vestal Restaurant; Lafayette

Tickets are on sale now for $60 each. To purchase your ticket online, head to EventBrite. One ticket provides you admission to the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off and the Up Yonder Food & Wine Festival.

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