COMPETITION OVERVIEW
NOVEMBER 9-13, 2016
ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA
There's nothing fishy about someone who knows how to delicately plate seared scallops or whip up a batch of perfectly seasoned lobster bisque; it's pure talent.
The World Seafood Championship will pit 50 of the world’s best seafood bosses against each other for the title of World Seafood Champion. Home cooks, restaurateurs and chefs will all compete to see whose cuisine reigns supreme. The champion will then take their best shot to the Final Table for a chance to win the World Food Championship.
WORLD SEAFOOD CHAMPIONSHIP
$10,000 GRAND PRIZE
Schedule and Rules
COMPETITION STRUCTURE
The World Food Championships will feature three rounds of competition.
Signature Dish: competitors will create their best recipe for judging within each category.
Structured Build: this round separates the contenders from the pretenders by forcing everyone to create their own spin on the same basic dish.
Infused Ingredient: the top competitors in each category will face off for culinary supremacy using the same ingredient in their final category dish.
2016 Competitor Packets
COMPETITION SCHEDULE & RULES
The World Seafood Championship will be limited to the first 50 entrants who are fully qualified, registered and confirmed. Any qualified entrant who wants to compete after the field is full must seek a special exemption from the WFC competition committee.
The following event is an International Qualifier for the 2016 World Seafood Championship:
Canadian Food Championships
The following events are Preferred Qualifiers for the 2016 World Seafood Championship:
Alabama Seafood Cook-Off
Annual National Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge
Saucy Mama's 2016 Recipe Contest - (Seafood Winner)
Shrimp on the Barbie Shrimp Throwdown
The Wharf Uncorked Wine and Culinary Event
The following competitions are automatic qualifiers for the 2016 World Seafood Championship:
United States Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Phoenix New Times – Best Seafood | Phoenix, AZ, US | Oct 1, 2015 |
| 2015 San Diego’s UTribune – Best Seafood | San Diego, CA, US | Oct 1, 2015 |
| World’s Championship Shrimp Cookoff – Professional Division | Port Isabel, TX, US | Nov 1, 2015 |
| World’s Championship Shrimp Cookoff – Amateur Division | Port Isabel, TX, US | Nov 1, 2015 |
| Food Fight Night event at Celebration Town Tavern | Kissimmee, FL, US | Nov 2, 2015 |
| Oyster Cook-off & Craft Beer Weekend at the Hangout | Gulf Shores, AL, US | Nov 6, 2015 |
| Jambalaya Cook-off 2015 | Lincoln City, OR, US | Jan 30, 2016 |
| Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook Off – Individual Manhattan Clam Chowder | Santa Cruz, CA, US | Feb 20, 2016 |
| Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook Off – Professional Manhattan Clam Chowder | Santa Cruz, CA, US | Feb 20, 2016 |
| Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook Off - Best Individual Boston Clam Chowder | Santa Cruz, CA, US | Feb 20, 2016 |
| Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook Off - Best Professional Boston Clam Chowder | Santa Cruz, CA, US | Feb 20, 2016 |
| Hilton Head Island Seafood Fest | Hilton Head, SC, US | Mar 2, 2016 |
| National Maple Syrup Festival Sweet Victory Challenge - Savory Category | Medora, IN, US | Mar 5, 2016 |
| National Maple Syrup Festival Sweet Victory Challenge - Savory Category - People's Choice | Medora, IN, US | Mar 5, 2016 |
| Seafood Excellence Awards | Portland, ME, US | Mar 6, 2016 |
| Paella Challenge | San Antonio, TX, US | Mar 13, 2016 |
| Best of the Bay Crawfish Cookoff (Bigass Crawfish Bash) | LaMarque, TX, US | Mar 26, 2016 |
| Saucy Mama's 2016 Recipe Contest - (Seafood Winner) | ONLINE, US | Apr 6, 2016 |
| Nashville Scene Iron Fork | Nashville, TN, US | Apr 7, 2016 |
| East Cost She Crab Soup Classic - Critic's Choice | Virginia Beach, VA, US | Apr 9, 2016 |
| East Cost She Crab Soup Classic - People's Choice | Virginia Beach, VA, US | Apr 9, 2016 |
| International Olive Oil Competition | New York, NY, US | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Crawfish Cook-off | Slidell, LA, US | Apr 16, 2016 |
| Chuckanut Chowder Cookoff | Bellingham, WA, US | Apr 24, 2016 |
| Fish Taco Cook-off - People's Choice - Best Fish Taco | Lincoln City, OR, US | Apr 30, 2016 |
| Crawfish and Roses | Covington, LA, US | May 7, 2016 |
| White Marlin Festival & Crab Soup Cook Off | Ocean City, MD, US | May 14, 2016 |
| Alabama Seafood Cook-Off | Orange Beach, AL, US | May 25, 2016 |
| Mississippi Seafood Experience: Cook Off + Shrimp Boil | Gulfport, MS, US | May 26, 2016 |
| Roc City Rib Fest - (Seafood competition) | Rochester, NY, US | May 27, 2016 |
| Cincinnati City Beat – Best Seafood Winner | Cincinnati, OH, US | May 30, 2016 |
| West Coast Chowder Competition | Vancouver, WA, US | Jun 3, 2016 |
| Flora-Bama Yacht Club "Wild" Chef Throwdown (Seafood competition) | Perdido Key, AL, US | Jun 9, 2016 |
| Flora-Bama Yacht Club "Wild" Chef Throwdown (Seafood competition) | Perdido Key, AL, US | Jun 9, 2016 |
| Flora-Bama Yacht Club "Wild" Chef Throwdown (Guest Master Chef) | Perdido Key, AL, US | Jun 9, 2016 |
| Bella Sun Luci Recipe Contest - (Mooney Farms) | Chico, CA, US | Jul 1, 2016 |
| King's Dominion Military Chef BBQ Battle (Seafood competition) | Doswell, VA, US | Jul 2, 2016 |
| Maine Lobster Festival Cooking Contest | Rockland, ME, US | Aug 5, 2016 |
| REEF Palm Beach County Lionfish Derby (People's Choice) | Jacksonville, FL, US | Aug 13, 2016 |
| Annual National Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge | Gulf Shores, AL, US | Aug 24, 2016 |
| Grill for Ten Grand (Seafood competition) | Suquamish, WA, US | Aug 27, 2016 |
| Culinary Fight Club (San Diego Sushiritto and Paired Drink) | San Diego, CA, US | Aug 28, 2016 |
| Food Fight in the 'Ville - (Seafood competition) | Louisville, KY, US | Sep 2, 2016 |
| Culinary Fight Club (Atlanta Seafood) | Atlanta, GA, US | Sep 8, 2016 |
| Maryland Seafood Festival | Annapolis, MD, US | Sep 10, 2016 |
| The Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Festival | Orange Beach, AL, US | Sep 15, 2016 |
| Budweiser Taste of St. Louis - Chef Battle Royale: Battle Seafood and Stella | St. Louis, MO, US | Sep 16, 2016 |
| Brooklyn Lobster Takedown - People's Choice | Brooklyn, NY, US | Sep 18, 2016 |
| Cast Iron Cook Off | Chattanooga, TN, US | Sep 18, 2016 |
| CT Chef's Challenge | Bridgeport, CT, US | Sep 22, 2016 |
| Wild Texas Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Cash Cookoff - Shrimp Gumbo (Amateur) | Galveston Island, TX, US | Sep 24, 2016 |
| Wild Texas Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Cash Cookoff - Shrimp Gumbo (Restaurant Division) | Galveston Island, TX, US | Sep 24, 2016 |
| Wild Texas Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Cash Cookoff - Chef's Choice Open Shrimp | Galveston Island, TX, US | Sep 24, 2016 |
| Wild Texas Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Cash Cookoff - Shrimp Bisque | Galveston Island, TX, US | Sep 24, 2016 |
| Wild Texas Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Cash Cookoff - Shrimp Burger | Galveston Island, TX, US | Sep 24, 2016 |
| Wild Texas Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Cash Cookoff - People's Choice (Showmanship) | Galveston Island, TX, US | Sep 24, 2016 |
| North Carolina Seafood Festival | Morehead City, NC, US | Sep 30, 2016 |
| Shrimp on the Barbie Shrimp Throwdown | Mount Pleasant, SC, US | Oct 1, 2016 |
| Captain Joseph Chowder Cookoff | Port Angeles, WA, US | Oct 7, 2016 |
| Just A Pinch - 2015 Top Ten - Seafood - 1st Place | US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Champion | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 8th Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 5th Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 4th Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 9th Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 2nd Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 7th Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 6th Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - Tenth Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 3rd Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Pasta Championship - Top Ten - 7th Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 7th Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| 2015 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 6th Place | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| Florida Media Food Champ Throwdown | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| HFMA Taste Awards' Battle of the Chefs | Honolulu, HI, US | |
| Hospice Foundation of the South Crawfish Cook-off | Slidell, LA, US | |
| 2014 World Seafood Champion | Las Vegas, NV, US | |
| Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Online Contest - 3rd Place | ONLINE, US | |
| Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Online Contest - 1st Place | ONLINE, US | |
| Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Online Contest - 2nd Place | ONLINE, US | |
| Just A Pinch - 2016 - Seafood | ONLINE, US | |
| Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Online Contest - Seafood - 2nd Place | ONLINE, US | |
| 2016 Cutthroat Kitchen Evilicious Tournament | TV, US |
International Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Smokin' Hot BBQ San Juan (Seafood competition) | San Juan, PR | Feb 20, 2016 |
| Canadian Food Championships - Seafood - First Place | Edmonton, AB, CA | Jul 22, 2016 |
| Canadian Food Championships - Seafood - Second Place | Edmonton, AB, CA | Jul 22, 2016 |
| Canadian Food Championships - Seafood - Third Place | Edmonton, AB, CA | Jul 22, 2016 |
| The Young Seafood Chef of the Year Competition | Essex, GB | Oct 6, 2016 |