Elise Wiggins, executive chef of Panzano in Denver, will represent Colorado at the Great American Seafood Cook Off in New Orleans on Aug. 3. One of the most prestigious culinary competitions in the United States, The Great American Seafood Cook Off emphasizes the importance of cooking with domestic and sustainable seafood.
In New Orleans, Wiggins will compete against more than a dozen top seafood chefs from across the country for the title of “King” or “Queen” of American Seafood. The chefs will prepare dishes that showcase sustainable fish. Garrett Wiggins, Elise’s younger brother, will act as her sous chef at the event. Interestingly, Wiggins grew up in West Monroe, La., and moved to Colorado to pursue her cooking career.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to return to Louisiana and represent Colorado at the Cook Off in New Orleans,” said Wiggins, whose restaurant, Panzano has a Four Diamond rating from AAA. “I look forward to meeting chefs from other states as we help spread the word about the importance of sustainability.”
Wiggins didn’t disclose her recipe for the competition, but did reveal its name: Colorado Kokanee Salmon Celebration. The fish comes from the Blue Mesa in Colorado. Wiggins is a graduate of the Colorado Institute of Art and she was named Colorado Chef of the Year in 2005.
“I am pleased that Chef Elise is bringing a taste of Colorado to the Tenth Annual Great American Seafood Cook Off,” said Ewell Smith, executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, which produces the cookoff. “Each year we bring a new and diverse group of America’s most talented chefs to New Orleans, and it is fast becoming apparent that 2013 will be the most exciting year yet.”
Earlier this year, organizers of The Great American Seafood Cook Off encouraged states to hold a qualifying round or appoint a chef to compete in the event. There are currently 16 chefs registered representing such states as Alabama, Alaska, Mississippi, New Mexico and South Carolina.
John Besh won the first The Great American Seafood Cook-Off in 2004 with a dish of pan-roasted Louisiana blackfish with corn, crab and caviar. The 2012 Cook-Off Crown went to Chef Gregory Gourdet of Departure Restaurant in Portland, Ore. Chef Gourdet prepared a dish of slow-cooked Oregon Chinook Salmon featuring butter clams, bacon dashi, porcini, roasted heirloom tomato and crispy sea greens.
The Great American Seafood Cook Off will take place on Aug. 3 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans during the Louisiana Foodservice Expo. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service is the chief sponsor of the event. More information is available at www.GreatAmericanSeafoodCookoff.com.
“I know it seems crazy for a chef from a landlocked state like Colorado to compete in a national seafood competition but I’m getting these great Kokanee salmon from Blue Mesa, caught by fishing guide Robby Richardson from Sport Fish Colorado. I can’t wait to get back to Louisiana and win this thing,” Wiggins added.
Elise Wiggins of Panzano will compete in the Great American Seafood Cook Off on Aug. 3. (Photo courtesy of Hotel Monaco/Panzano restaurant)
Wine time
It’s almost getting old, but Wine Spectator magazine gave Boulder restaurant Flagstaff House its Grand Award for the 30th straight year.
The Grand Award is Wine Spectator’s highest honor, awarded to restaurants that demonstrate passion and commitment to their wine programs.
Wine Spectator also gave a Grand Award to Aspen’s Element 47 based on its wine selections from the regions and countries of Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Italy and Germany.
Seventy-three restaurants around the world earned the Wine Spectator Grand Award. All of the wine winners will be announced in the magazine’s August 31 issue, which hits newsstands on July 23.
Twenty-eight Colorado restaurants earned Best of Award of Excellence and 68 were mentioned for Award of Excellence.
For more information, visit www.winespectator.com/restaurants/search.
Baby steps
Ella Quinn Wiard was born at 1:44 p.m. Tuesday. The second child for Elway’s Cherry Creek chef Tyler Wiard and his wife, Jen (events manager at Elway’s) was 7 pounds, 5 ounces at birth. Daddy Tyler says, “Crazy story to this delivery, short version … (Jen) was in pain last night from 11 p.m. until now. Came to hospital at approximately 7 a.m., complaining of major cramp in right side, they gave her meds, blood work and an ultrasound.”
“Gall bladder has to be removed in the very near future. Got an epidural, broke my water, baby’s heart rate dropped, got rushed to surgery. We had a C-section,” Jen reports. “Baby is in special room for extra oxygen. I am in recovery. Phew!!”
I adore this couple and am so happy for their addition! Congrats, folks.
Jen and Tyler Wiard welcome their second child into the world. Daughter Ella Quinn Wiard was born at 1:44 p.m. Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of the Wiards)
Chanteuse
Pam Savage will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 19 at Dazzle. Her crew includes Randy Chavez on guitar, Bob Rebholz on sax, Eric Gunnison on keys, Bijoux Barbosa on bass and Mike Marlier on drums.
The local R&B/jazz songstress returns to the stage at the Capitol Hill nightspot after taking time off from her live performances to focus on raising her family and helping to develop and operate her and her husband’s chain of Lime restaurants.
Savage has stayed busy in the studio and behind the scenes in the music business. She made her name performing live in Denver and throughout the Midwest. She and her band will perform new songs as well as many of her old favorites.
Dazzle Jazz is located at 930 Lincoln St. Call 303-839-5100 for more information.
Way to go, dude!
Former Denver Post reporter Mark Obmascik‘s second book, “Halfway to Heaven,” has been chosen by the city of Wheat Ridge for its One City/One Book program.
Here’s Obmascik’s Facebook post on Monday:
“Woo hoo! Honored and grateful to have my second book, Halfway to Heaven, selected by Wheat Ridge, CO for its One City / One Book program. I’ll be giving a series of talks and slide shows about the book (how to climb — or how not to climb — all of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains in a summer) in September.”
Obmascik’s first book, “The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession,” was a best seller and was turned into a feature film starring Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson.
For more information, visit http://jefferson.lib.co.us/press-room/press-releases/wheat-ridge-reads-feature-fourteener-memoir.
Mark Obmascik’s latest book, “Halfway to Heaven.”
Eavesdropping on Facebook: “Being a grownup means wearing sensible shoes to a New Kids on the Block/Boyz II Men concert.”
Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.
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