ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI SEAFOOD COOK-OFF
This premier cooking competition was created by Mississippi Seafood Marketing to promote the domestic, fresh, sustainable seafood industry located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The state’s most talented chefs compete for the title of king or queen of Mississippi Seafood, as they prepare their signatures dishes in front of a live audience. Then, a panel of judges score each chef. Chefs will be judged on characteristics such as presentation, creativity, composition, craftsmanship and flavor.
The winner of our state cook-off will represent Mississippi in August at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans, Louisiana.,as they compete against chefs throughout the country for the national seafood crown.
AN EVENT YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS
Mississippi Seafood Marketing has partnered with the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce’s annual tasting event, Taste, Rattle & Roll. Together, we will host the 12th Annual Mississippi Seafood Cook-off. You’ll have the opportunity to view Mississippi’s top chefs compete for the seafood crown and sample local food from more than 25 of Gulfport’s best restaurants. Enjoy an evening outdoors, set around the dancing fountains of Centennial Plaza and listen to live music by Gram Rea, Ty Taylor and Friends.
Thursday, May 11, 2023 | 5 – 8 p.m.
Centennial Plaza
200 Beach Boulevard | Gulfport, MS
Must be 21 or older to attend.
2022 KING OF Mississippi Seafood
CHEF Cooper miller, Forklift, Tupelo, Mississippi
Cooper Miller is the chef and owner of Tupelo’s hottest restaurant Forklift, where he serves up his take on Southern Creole Cuisine. He is a native of Amory, Mississippi, where his family has operated restaurants off and on throughout the years. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Mississippi State University, he moved to Atlanta to pursue his culinary career. He graduated summa cum laude from Le Cordon Bleu in 2007 and spent the next decade training with some of the best chefs in the south, including stints with James Beard Award winner Linton Hopkins and Food Network personality Richard Blais. Now back home, he’s living his dream of running a successful restaurant and spending time with his wife, Lauren, and daughter, Harlow.
He currently serves as Mississippi’s Seafood King after winning the Mississippi Seafood Cook-off in May 2022 with his dish “Chorizo and Potato crusted Grouper with summer corn puree, roasted jalapeno sauce and salsa water.”
