Lt. Gov Nungesser Announces Chefs for LASCO 2018

The Lt. Governor and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board are proud to announce the selection of 12 chefs from across the state to represent their areas in the 11th annual Louisiana Seafood Cook Off (LASCO).
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The chefs include:
 
Paul Gibson                     Pont Breaux's Cajun Restaurant                                                            Breaux Bridge
Scott McCue                  Cypress Bayou Casino and Hotel                                                           Charenton
Joshua Hebert              The Cabin Restaurant                                                                                    Gonzales
Kris Allen                          Pamplona Tapas Bar & Restaurant                                                        Lafayette
Ryan Trahan                    Blue Dog Café                                                                                                    Lafayette
Justin East                        Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse at the Golden Nugget                   Lake Charles    
Paige Lucas                      Pork Belly's Bar and Grill                                                                            Marksville
Nick Simons                     Wine Country Bistro                                                                                    Shreveport
Anthony Felan                Fat Calf Boucherie                                                                                         Shreveport
Justin Ferguson             BRQ Restaurant                                                                                              Baton Rouge
Noah Lessard                  Ruffino's                                                                                                               Baton Rouge
Richard Brennan III     Bourbon House                                                                                               New Orleans
 
“Seafood is a part of our culture and has created a culinary identity for Louisiana unlike any other state,” Lt. Governor Nungesser said.  “Oysters Rockefeller, shrimp poboys, crab boils and all the wonderful dishes these chefs create with our abundant seafood keep tourists coming back.  This is a chance for us to celebrate the great contribution chefs and our hard working seafood industry make to the state.”
 
LASCO will be held in conjunction with the Taste of EatLafayette event which will be held at the Cajundome Convention Center on June 19. The evening will include the live cook off with chefs from all over the state participating in a competition with the winner to be announced that evening.
 
This event features the best of both worlds: a taste of EatLafayette restaurants and a world class cooking competition. This is the 14th year for EatLafayette and the 11th year for the state’s premier cooking competition, which is presented by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board in partnership with the Louisiana Restaurant Association.
“We are delighted that the Lt. Governor and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion Board are staging the Cook-off in Lafayette again this year,” said Ben Berthelot, President & CEO of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission. “Last year it helped take our popular Taste of EatLafayette Event to another level, while providing great exposure for our area, our chefs, restaurants, the Cook-off and EatLafayette. It is exciting to see this partnership and event continue this year.”

The Taste of EatLafayette showcases locally owned restaurants that participate in the annual EatLafayette™ campaign. The event has traditionally served as the kick off for the summer campaign that drives customers to local eateries and is a sell out every year.
 
The winner of LASCO will represent Louisiana at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off (GASCO) in New Orleans on Saturday, August 4 at the Morial Convention Center. GASCO is held in conjunction with the Louisiana Restaurant Association EXPO and will feature chefs from around the country competing for the title of King of Queen of American Seafood.
 
Follow @LaSeafoodBoard on Instagram and Twitter and keep up will all Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off (LASCO) events via the official hashtag, #LASCO18.