E-Mail
Print
A popular New Orleans cooking competition goes national this week.
And, Louisiana seafood is about to play a starring role on national TV.
The 'Great American Seafood Cook-off' is about to air on PBS television stations across the country.
Coverage of the annual cook-off has aired nationally on the Food Network and PBS, but until now there was no packaged coverage of successive years' competitions.
"Whether we win or we place, we win...because the spotlight is shown on New Orleans," says Ewell Smith, Executive Director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board.
The Cook-off series will begin airing on Create TV Tuesday and Thursday, through March 19th, and will be available to PBS stations around the country after that.
"It's huge for Louisiana, because we get to showcase our seafood on a national platform," says Smith. "Anytime you can put our seafood on TV at a national level, that is a great thing."
It's really a nice bit of publicity for the state, its seafood and New Orleans.
"The sheer fact that we host the event...we get to showcase the hospitality of Louisiana. And we get to showcase the best seafood in the world from Louisiana, because, all of a sudden we're exposing it to the chefs and national broadcast."
It's also a nice shot in the arm for his organization.
"It's huge because it positions the Seafood Board as a leader in the entire United States, which helps the state shine."
PBS says, "Unlike some of the reality TV shows, the Great American Seafood Cook-off is a civilized cooking show."
Smith agrees. "It lets the chefs shine. It lets them really shine with what they do. It's not about the drama. Certainly, there are moments of tension, but it's more about them cooking the domestic seafood...the Louisiana seafood."
Featured local chefs include John Besh, Tory McPhail and John Folse.
"What's interesting is that PBS member stations vote on programs they want to carry," said Smith. "A program or series has to get at least 15 percent of the vote before it is made available for broadcast."
The Great American Seafood Cook-off was voted in by 70 percent.
Smith says the newest PBS broadcast series will allow millions of viewers to see people cooking and eating seafood from the Gulf Coast, confirming that the region's seafood is abundant and safe.
He says it'll likely boost sales of Louisiana seafood nationwide.
And, Louisiana seafood is about to play a starring role on national TV.
The 'Great American Seafood Cook-off' is about to air on PBS television stations across the country.
Coverage of the annual cook-off has aired nationally on the Food Network and PBS, but until now there was no packaged coverage of successive years' competitions.
"Whether we win or we place, we win...because the spotlight is shown on New Orleans," says Ewell Smith, Executive Director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board.
The Cook-off series will begin airing on Create TV Tuesday and Thursday, through March 19th, and will be available to PBS stations around the country after that.
"It's huge for Louisiana, because we get to showcase our seafood on a national platform," says Smith. "Anytime you can put our seafood on TV at a national level, that is a great thing."
It's really a nice bit of publicity for the state, its seafood and New Orleans.
"The sheer fact that we host the event...we get to showcase the hospitality of Louisiana. And we get to showcase the best seafood in the world from Louisiana, because, all of a sudden we're exposing it to the chefs and national broadcast."
It's also a nice shot in the arm for his organization.
"It's huge because it positions the Seafood Board as a leader in the entire United States, which helps the state shine."
PBS says, "Unlike some of the reality TV shows, the Great American Seafood Cook-off is a civilized cooking show."
Smith agrees. "It lets the chefs shine. It lets them really shine with what they do. It's not about the drama. Certainly, there are moments of tension, but it's more about them cooking the domestic seafood...the Louisiana seafood."
Featured local chefs include John Besh, Tory McPhail and John Folse.
"What's interesting is that PBS member stations vote on programs they want to carry," said Smith. "A program or series has to get at least 15 percent of the vote before it is made available for broadcast."
The Great American Seafood Cook-off was voted in by 70 percent.
Smith says the newest PBS broadcast series will allow millions of viewers to see people cooking and eating seafood from the Gulf Coast, confirming that the region's seafood is abundant and safe.
He says it'll likely boost sales of Louisiana seafood nationwide.
