Calling All Chefs!
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
The recipes may be passed down or home grown. The chefs will range from back yard burner to culinary craftsman. What all of the cooks will have in common during Jekyll Island’s 3rd Annual Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival September 19-21st will be two key ingredients: shrimp and grits. Amateur and professional chefs will spin their culinary creations for top honors and cash prizes in this 3rd annual cooking competition.
“The quality and creativity of the entries is always and interesting and delicious surprise,” said Beth Burnsed, Event Marketing Manager for Jekyll Island. “The variety of shrimp & grits recipes makes the competition harder and harder every year. These contestants mean business!”
On the amateur side, individuals or groups are able to participate. This year there will be amateur competitions, both on Saturday and there is an entry fee of $30 per group which provides entrants with shrimp, grits, and a festival T-shirt. Each chef will need to furnish all other ingredients, a propane cook-top and cooking utensils necessary to create their shrimp and grits specialties. The first place recipient will receive a $500 cash prize. The second place recipient will receive $300, and the third place contestant will garner $100.
The entry fee for professional chefs, those who have worked within the restaurant business for 2 years or more, is $100 and includes shrimp, grits, and a festival T-shirt. The first prize winner will take home bragging rights, $1,000 cash. Second place will receive $800, and the third place contestant receives $500.
The Amateur Cook-offs will be held on Saturday, Sept 20th beginning at 10 a.m and 3:30 PM. Professional chefs will compete on Sunday, Sept 21st beginning at 12:00 p.m. The competition will utilize staggered start and stop times to ensure each entry is freshly served to the panel of judges. Contestants will be judged on recipe/ingredients, taste, originality and presentation. Recipes can be centered on any meal day part and include an array of ingredients, but all must contain both shrimp and grits. Participation in both cook-off events is on a first-come, first-served basis with space restricted to ten entries per competition. Registration forms can be obtained online
www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits.
Providing the key ingredient, Wild Georgia Shrimp, will be the Georgia Shrimp Association, the events title sponsor.
Other activities taking place during the festival weekend include shrimp-eating contests, an arts and crafts show, kids play area, live music and lots of food. We will even have a the Lady Jane, a real shrimp boat, available for tours and a sunset cruise! For more information on the Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival visit www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits or call 1-877-4JEKYLL.
