COMPETITION OVERVIEW
NOVEMBER 8-12, 2017
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 2017 World Seafood Championship:
Canadian Food Championships - Edmonton, AB Canada - 7/21/17-7/23/17
Caribbean Food Championships - Coco Beach, Puerto Rico - 6/10/17
The following events are Preferred Qualifiers for the 2017 World Seafood Championship:
Annual National Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge - Gulf Shores, AL - 8/30/17-8/31/17
Shrimp on the Barbie Shrimp Throwdown - Charleston, SC - 10/1/17
Taste of America - 1st Place - Online - 6/1/17-7/5/17
The following events are Elite Qualifiers for the 2017 World Seafood Championship:
Food Champ Online Recipe Contests - Online - Monthly
Wild Card Elite Division - Online - 4/5/17-10/1/17
The following competitions are automatic qualifiers for the 2017 World Seafood Championship:
United States Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Culinary Fight Club | Various Locations, US | |
| Culinary Fight Club | Various Locations, US | |
| Culinary Fight Club - Seafood - Mark Gaylord | US | |
| Culinary Fight Club - Seafood - Greg Gaardbo | US | |
| Waitlisted World Seafood Championship | US | Nov 8, 2017 |
| Oyster Cook-off & Craft Beer Weekend at the Hangout | Gulf Shores, AL, US | Nov 4, 2016 |
| 2016 World Seafood Champion - James Aptakin | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 2nd Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 3rd Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 4th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 5th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 6th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 7th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 8th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - 9th Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| 2016 World Seafood Championship - Top Ten - Tenth Place | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| Alabama Seafood Cook-Off | Orange Beach, AL, US | Jun 26, 2017 |
| Annual National Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge - 2nd Place | Gulf Shores, AL, US | Aug 30, 2017 |
| The Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Festival | Orange Beach, AL, US | Sep 14, 2017 |
| Blue Marlin Master Chef Challenge - Chef Stuart RebDonald | Orange Beach, AL, US | Jul 14, 2017 |
| Blue Marlin Master Chef Challenge - Chef Billy Highland | Orange Beach, AL, US | Jul 14, 2017 |
| Blue Marlin Master Chef Challenge - Chef Robert Kraatz | Orange Beach, AL, US | Jul 14, 2017 |
| Annual National Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge - 3rd Place | Gulf Shores, AL, US | Aug 30, 2017 |
| Phoenix New Times - Best Mexican Seafood | Phoenix, AZ, US | |
| Scottsdale Culinary Festival - Teen Challenge - 1st Place | Scottsdale, AZ, US | Apr 8, 2017 |
| Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook Off - Best Individual Boston Clam Chowder | Santa Cruz, CA, US | Feb 25, 2017 |
| Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook Off - Best Individual Manhattan Clam Chowder | Santa Cruz, CA, US | Feb 25, 2017 |
| Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook Off - Best Professional Boston Clam Chowder | Santa Cruz, CA, US | Feb 25, 2017 |
| Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook Off - Best Professional Manhattan Clam Chowder | Santa Cruz, CA, US | Feb 25, 2017 |
| Connecticut Chef's Challenge to Benefit Optimus Foundation | Bridgeport, CT, US | Sep 14, 2017 |
| Coast Day Crab Cake Cook-Off - Finals | Lewes, DE, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| Best of the Best on the Emerald Coast | Destin, FL, US | Oct 22, 2016 |
| 2015 World Seafood Champion - Cindy Taffel | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| Flora-Bama Yacht Club Wild Chef Throwdown (Seafood competition) | Perdido Key, FL, US | Jun 2, 2017 |
| Flora-Bama Lions on the Line Lionfish Derby (Judge's Choice) | Perdido Key, FL, US | Sep 15, 2017 |
| Flora-Bama Lions on the Line Lionfish Derby (People's Choice) | Perdido Key, FL, US | Sep 15, 2017 |
| Flora-Bama Yacht Club Wild Chef Throwdown (Showdown winner) | Perdido Key, FL, US | Jun 2, 2017 |
| HFMA Taste Awards' Battle of the Chefs | Kuhio, HI, US | May 20, 2017 |
| Battle of the Chefs (Hawaii Foods Manufacturing Association) | Oahu, HI, US | May 20, 2017 |
| Northshore Gumbo Cook-Off | Slidell, LA, US | Mar 11, 2017 |
| Crawfish Cook-off | Slidell, LA, US | Apr 22, 2017 |
| Hospice Foundation of the South Crawfish Cook-off | Slidell, LA, US | Apr 22, 2017 |
| Great American Seafood Cookoff | New Orleans, LA, US | Aug 5, 2017 |
| Crawfish and Roses | Covington, LA, US | May 6, 2017 |
| Boston Magazine - Best Lobster Roll | Boston, MA, US | Jul 18, 2017 |
| Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs & Pastry Provincial Competition - Best Young Chef | Gaithersburg, MD, US | May 4, 2017 |
| Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs & Pastry Provincial Competition - Hawaii / Pacific Islands | Gaithersburg, MD, US | May 4, 2017 |
| Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs & Pastry Provincial Competition - Southeast Region | Gaithersburg, MD, US | May 4, 2017 |
| Maryland Seafood Festival | Annapolis, MD, US | Sep 9, 2017 |
| Maryland Seafood Festival - Crab Soup Cook-off | Annapolis, MD, US | Sep 9, 2017 |
| National Oyster Cook-off - Main Dish Category Winner | Leonardtown, MD, US | Oct 15, 2016 |
| National Oyster Cook-off - Soups & Stews Category Winner and Grand Prize Winner | Leonardtown, MD, US | Oct 15, 2016 |
| National Oyster Cook-off - Hors d'Oeuvres Category Winner | Leonardtown, MD, US | Oct 15, 2016 |
| National Oyster Cook-off - People's Choice Winner | Leonardtown, MD, US | Oct 15, 2016 |
| Taste of Cambridge Crab Cook Off | Cambridge, MD, US | Jul 8, 2017 |
| Seafood Excellence Awards | Portland, ME, US | Mar 19, 2017 |
| Maine Lobster Festival Seafood Cooking Contest | Rockland, ME, US | Aug 5, 2017 |
| Bethal HarvestFest Chowdah Cookoff | Bethel, ME, US | Sep 17, 2017 |
| North Carolina Seafood Festival | Morehead City, NC, US | Sep 30, 2016 |
| Annual Chowder Cook-off Classic - New England Chowder Winner | Long Beach Island, NJ, US | Oct 2, 2016 |
| Annual Chowder Cook-off Classic - Manhattan Chowder Winner | Long Beach Island, NJ, US | Oct 2, 2016 |
| Annual Chowder Cook-off Classic - Creative Chowder Winner | Long Beach Island, NJ, US | Oct 2, 2016 |
| 2014 World Seafood Champion - Terry Reinhardt | Las Vegas, NV, US | |
| Black Elk Brisket Burnout - Seafood Competition Winner | Miami, OK, US | May 6, 2017 |
| GSOBT Online Contest - Seafood- 4th Place | ONLINE, US | Apr 21, 2017 |
| GSOBT Online Contest - Seafood- 3rd Place | ONLINE, US | Apr 21, 2017 |
| GSOBT Online Contest - Seafood- 2nd Place | ONLINE, US | Apr 21, 2017 |
| GSOBT Online Contest - Seafood- 1st Place | ONLINE, US | Apr 21, 2017 |
| Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival | Hilton Head, SC, US | Feb 25, 2017 |
| Shrimp on the Barbie Shrimp Throwdown | Charleston, SC, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| Nashville Scene Iron Fork | Nashville, TN, US | Apr 13, 2017 |
| The F Word on FOX - Episode 5 - Casey Jones | TV, US | |
| Paella Challenge | San Antonio, TX, US | Mar 26, 2017 |
| Best of the Bay Crawfish Cookoff (Bigass Crawfish Bash) | LaMarque, TX, US | Apr 1, 2017 |
| Wild Texas Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Cash Cookoff - Chef's Choice Open Shrimp | Galveston Island, TX, US | Sep 22, 2017 |
| Wild Texas Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Cash Cookoff - People's Choice (Showmanship) | Galveston Island, TX, US | Sep 22, 2017 |
| Wild Texas Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Cash Cookoff - Shrimp Burger | Galveston Island, TX, US | Sep 22, 2017 |
| World's Championship Shrimp Cookoff - Amateur Division | Port Isabel, TX, US | Nov 6, 2016 |
| World's Championship Shrimp Cookoff - Professional Division | Port Isabel, TX, US | Nov 6, 2016 |
| Azle Spring Fling Steak Cookoff (Appetizer competition) | Azle, TX, US | |
| Captain Joseph Chowder Cookoff | Port Angeles, WA, US | Oct 7, 2016 |
| Monterey Wine and West Coast Chowder Competition | Vancouver, WA, US | Jun 9, 2017 |
| Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival Chowder Cook-Off (Amateur Division) | Port Angeles, WA, US | |
| Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival Chowder Cook-Off (Professional Division) | Port Angeles, WA, US |
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Food Championships - Seafood - 1st and 2nd Place | Edmonton, AB, CA | Jul 21, 2017 |
| Kavala Fresk Feastival - Cape Verde | Praia, CV | Jul 8, 2017 |
| Taste of the World - France | FR | Jun 1, 2017 |
| Taste of the World - Haiti | HT | Jun 1, 2017 |
| Q-Fest (Seafood competition) - United Kingdom | Devon, GB | Apr 28, 2017 |
| The Young Seafood Chef of the Year Competition - United Kingdom | Lincolnshire, GB | Jun 13, 2017 |