Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin has selected a Fayetteville chef and restaurant owner to represent Arkansas in the 2018 Great American Seafood Cook-off on Aug. 4 in New Orleans, according to a news release.
Maudie Schmitt is the chef and co-owner of Cafe Rue Orleans. Schmitt was born in New Orleans, according to the news release.
"I am excited for chef Maudie Schmitt to represent Arkansas at the Great American Seafood Cook-off," Griffin said in the news release. "Arkansans already know we have great food, but this event helps promote Arkansas tourism and showcase Arkansas's culinary excellence to the rest of the nation. In 2016, we had a number of enthusiastic Arkansans travel to New Orleans to show their support for Arkansas's culinary excellence, and I hope even more will join me this year."
The annual competion on PBS features chefs from more than a dozen states who will have one hour to prepare their seafood dishes to be judged by a panel, according to the PBS website.
In 2016, Griffin nominated head chef John Munday and sous chef Marshall Smith from Samantha's Tap Room and Wood Grill in Little Rock. The chefs took home 2nd place at the competition.
NW News on 06/14/2018