Alabama's top chefs will soon compete in a high-stakes cooking battle using Gulf seafood. The Alabama Seafood Cook-Off is marking its tenth year with a special celebration. Four chef teams will create dishes using both seafood and local farm ingredients. Sweet Grown Alabama is organizing the event this year.

The competition takes place on Monday, May 5, at The Wharf in Orange Beach. This marks a special milestone as the event celebrates a decade of showcasing Alabama's food heritage. Sweet Grown Alabama has taken over hosting duties from the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission.

Each competing chef must feature Alabama Gulf Coast seafood alongside locally grown ingredients. The winning chef will receive $2,500 and represent Alabama at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans. Judges will score dishes on presentation, creativity, ingredient harmony, craftsmanship, and flavor.

"We are excited to showcase not just our world-class seafood, but the incredible diversity of locally grown ingredients across our state," said Ellie Watson, director of Sweet Grown Alabama. She calls the event "a true celebration of Alabama's farmers, fishermen, and culinary talent."

The competition features an impressive lineup of chefs. Chef Ben Rosen from The Depot in Auburn specializes in Gulf seafood with global influences. Chef Austin Salinas brings bold flavors from Hatch Huntsville in North Alabama.

From coastal areas, Chef Emilio Urban of Coastal Orange Beach offers local seafood expertise. Chef Megan Vanderford of Odette brings creative Northern Alabama cooking styles to the competition. All contestants will cook in front of a live audience.

Last year's winner, Chef Kyle Ogden, returns as a judge this year. "Winning this competition was such a unique and fun experience," Ogden said. "It's more than just a cook-off—it's a platform to tell our stories through food."

The event is free and open to the public, starting at 6:00 p.m. Watson encourages visitors to "come early and enjoy all the wonderful restaurants and shops The Wharf has to offer." Jim Cox will serve as emcee, sharing stories about local farms and fisheries.

For more information about the chefs and event details, visit the Sweet Grown Alabama website.