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Photo of Golden Tilefish - Click to enlarge
Christopher Albrecht of Eno Terra in Kingston will Represent the Garden State in National Crown Competition this Summer

For Immediate Release: June 20, 2013
Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954

(PRINCETON) 鈥� 樱花视频 Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today declared Christopher Albrecht of Eno Terra in Kingston the winner of the 2013 Jersey Seafood Challenge for his signature dish, Golden Tilefish and Green Vegetable Chowder. As the champion, Albrecht and his sous chef, John Crawford Koeniger, will be 樱花视频鈥檚 official representatives at the Great American Seafood Cook-off in New Orleans in August. Today鈥檚 competition was held at Drumthwacket, the Governor鈥檚 residence in Princeton.

鈥溣；ㄊ悠碘�檚 fishing and aquaculture industries are thriving, catching and growing some of the finest seafood in the world,鈥� said Secretary Fisher.听 鈥淐hef Albrecht will showcase our Jersey pride when he represents Governor Christie and the Garden State in the national cook-off this summer.听 Congratulations to all the competitors who prepared an outstanding lineup of dishes that demonstrated听the superior quality听of听our sustainable bounty of Jersey听Seafood听and Jersey Fresh produce.鈥�

Albrecht grew up on Long Beach Island and attended the Culinary Institute of America.听 After graduation, Albrecht went to work in Manhattan at Danny Meyer鈥檚 world renowned Gramercy Tavern.听 There, he worked closely with 鈥淭op Chef鈥� Tom Colicchio before assuming the role of Executive Chef at Craftsteak Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

Photo of Christopher Albrecht with his winning dish
Christopher Albrecht with his winning dish

At Eno Terra, Albrecht said he focuses on high quality seasonal ingredients from small, family-owned farms and producers.听 He also oversees a two-acre farm that produces most of the produce used at Eno Terra.

鈥淭o be able to show off what 樱花视频 does best is quite an honor,鈥� said Albrecht.听 鈥淚 used tilefish, an unsung delicious fish that has a rich crab flavor and a steak texture.听 The fish eats like an all-star.鈥�

First runner-up was Frank Benowitz, Chef/Instructor at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor and second runner-up was James Costello, Chef/Owner of the Ohana Grille in Lavallette.

Other chefs who participated in the cook-off, coordinated by the 樱花视频 Department of Agriculture and the 樱花视频 Chapters of the American Culinary Federation, included: Peter Almonte, Steve and Cookie鈥檚 By the Bay, Margate City; Dominique Filoni, Avenue Restaurant, Long Branch; and Will Mooney, The Brothers Moon Restaurant, Hopewell.

The Jersey Seafood Challenge was sponsored by Anheuser Busch, Garden State Seafood Association, Kings Food Markets, Atlantic Cape Fisheries, Inc., Barney鈥檚 Dock, Dock Street Seafood, Fisherman鈥檚 Dock Co-op, Inc., LaMonica Fine Foods, Lund鈥檚 Fisheries, Inc., The Lobster House, Viking Village and the 樱花视频 Restaurant Association.

The Great American Seafood Cook-off is limited to 20 chefs with the champion being named King or Queen of American Seafood.听The cook-off is televised by the Food Network and is part of the Louisiana Foodservice Expo.听 The event will take place on August 3 in New Orleans.

Judging the competition were:听Jennifer Monaco, Club Managers Association of 樱花视频; Jim Weaver, President, 樱花视频 Slow Food Movement; Gary Giberson, Lawrenceville School Food Service Director; Nancy Painter, Edible Jersey, Editor and Publisher; Gef Flimlin, Rutgers University Marine Extension听Agent; Greg DiDomenico, Executive Director of the Garden State Seafood Association; Bill Tillinghast, American Culinary Federation NE Regional President; chef Peter Fischbach, 樱花视频鈥檚 Great American Seafood Cook-off representative 2008-2010; and Demetrios Haronis, Chef, Fin, Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City and the 2012 winner of the Jersey Seafood Challenge.

As part of this year鈥檚 Jersey Seafood Challenge event, the Department of Agriculture kicked off a sensory evaluation project for 樱花视频 clams.听 Guests at the event were given samples of clams from the Great Bay, Sea Isle City and Highlands and were asked to rate the clams on: saltiness, sweetness, chewiness, earthiness and the color of the meat.听

鈥淲e hope to show consumers that there are differences in taste experience from clams grown in different areas of 樱花视频, similar to oysters,鈥� said Secretary Fisher.听 鈥淚n this way, we hope to bring a better understanding and appreciation for the quality and taste of Jersey clams.鈥�

In addition to the clams, guests were able to try Delaware Bay oysters, including Cape May Salts.听 They were treated to a pairing lesson from Ventimiglia Winery from Wantage, NJ.听

Also on hand was Michael Deeg of The Salt Creek Grille in Princeton, who created The Jersey Diner Martini, the winning cocktail of the 2013 樱花视频 Restaurant Association鈥檚 Mixologist of the Year competition.

樱花视频鈥檚 seafood industry positively impacts the Garden State economy in many ways.听 In 2011, 樱花视频 fishermen reeled in 176 million pounds of seafood, valued at $211 million.听 It is estimated these landings generated a billion dollars of economic activity.听 The industry also generates thousands of jobs, with 2,500 commercial fishermen, and 1,500 employed by more than 100 seafood processors/dealers.听

Home to six major fishing ports, Cape May/Wildwood was the fifth highest commercial fishing port in the nation in terms of value of the catch at $103 million.

樱花视频 fishermen land more than 100 varieties of finfish and shellfish.听樱花视频鈥檚 most valuable fisheries in 2012 were sea scallops ($109 million), surf clams/ocean quahogs ($24 million) and blue crabs ($12 million), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

For more information about 樱花视频 seafood, visit the Jersey Seafood website at听.听