Search
Close this search box.

Destin Chef Al Massa wins second place at National Competition for his pan seared lionfish

The 2022 Great American Seafood Cook-Off took place on Saturday, August 6, 2022 in New Orleans. The 18th annual event was held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in conjunction […]

2022 Great American Seafood Cook-Off

The 2022 Great American Seafood Cook-Off took place on Saturday, August 6, 2022 in New Orleans. The 18th annual event was held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in conjunction with the Louisiana Restaurant Association Showcase.

You’ll remember from last week’s newsletter that Chef Al Massa of Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer was representing Florida in the competition. 

  • He came in 2nd Place with his Pan Seared Florida Lionfish with black forbidden rice, melting zucchini ribbons with a chardonnay shellfish butter. 

This is the same dish that won the 2022 Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Restaurant Week.

The winner was Massachusetts Chef Erin Miller, who prepared a Cape Ann Tide Pool complemented by a consommé consisting of lobster tails and dune rose pits representing the incoming sea in the tide pool.

  • The dish included a scallop custard with corn and a sauté of all the flavors in the dish – sweet margarine, corn, mussels, and scallops.
  • The dish was finished with a butter-poached lobster tail and scallops with sea beans foraged from the Cape Ann region of Massachusetts.

Judging the dishes for the 2022 Great American Seafood Cook-Off were Louisiana Celebrity Chef John Folse, California Chef Shirley Chung, Two-time Chopped Champion and Florida Chef James Briscione, and Kentucky-based Sri Lankan-American Chef Sam Fore.

The Great American Seafood Cook-Off, which is dedicated to promoting sustainable and domestic fisheries, has been held every year in New Orleans since 2004.

Congrats Chef Massa!

PROMOTION

Join the conversation...

Continue reading 👇

Community Comments

“I miss Demetriu’s friendly face and lively personality at the Magnolia Clinic. Every time I drive through the intersection where the accident happened I just say a prayer for Demetrius...”
Respond
“I hope the motel will be renovated, but having lived here since 1955, I have seen this before: keep the locals happy by saying renovate. But, in reality, it will...”
Respond
“Demetrius's absence is still deeply felt by the patients of the clinic where he worked for many years.”
Respond
“This was such devastating news the day we lost Demetrius! He was so loved by so many in the community! Gone but never forgotten ! This guy should get life...”
Respond
“Dimitrius was a very loved person by so many citizens of Ft. Walton Beach. He will never be replaced. He is dearly missed by so many.”
Respond
“This was my beloved friend, please give this man the full sentence allowed by law, which is not good enough. It will never replace the life lost. Demetrius was a...”
Respond
“I’ve been a return customer for many, many decades!! I’m delighted to know that it is not being razed!! Thank you!!”
Respond
“The SRO belongs in the school budget, not the county’s. Furthermore, I’m sure those officers are not earning in excess of $100k a year so where is the rest of...”
Respond
Scott Schaeffler commented on WordroW: July 24, 2026
“1:39; 5 attempts”
Respond

GET OUR FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER

Get the weekday email that actually makes reading local news enjoyable again.