National Oyster Cook-off 2013

The National Oyster Cook-off was held on October 19 in Leonardtown, Maryland. The annual event is held in conjunction with the St. Mary’s Oyster Festival and the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship. More than 15,000 visitors attended the two-day festival which featured rows of vendors offering oyster fare and oyster-themed items.

Fifty chefs from as far away as Oregon entered recipes for consideration in the contest, open to cooks of all skill levels. Of those, nine were selected to attend the St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival, where they competed before a panel of judges.

The judges picked one winner in each of the three categories - hors d’oeuvre, soup/stew and main dish - based on taste and creativity. Reynolds won the overall prize of $1,000, an engraved silver tray and the national title. The other category winners took home cash prizes, ranging from $150 to $300.

Debbie Reynolds of Waldorf took took first place in the main dish category and won the overall grand prize with her Oyster and Chipotle Grits recipe.

Marty Hyson of Millersville won the hors d’oeuvre honor with his Grilled Oyster Reggiano. Winning both soup/stew and People’s Choice was Robert Johnson of Bushwood with his Merchant Mariner Oyster Rockefeller Chowder. Ronna Farley of Rockville earned the Best Presentation Award with her Crispy Oyster and Red Pepper Salsa Bruschetta.

The Oyster Cook-off is sponsored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Seafood Marketing Program, the Rotary Club of Lexington Park and the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development. Proceeds from the event go to local charities, educational scholarships, assistance grants, and Rotary International projects.

For more information on the National Oyster Cook-off, visit www.usoysterfest.com.

source: MD DNR

2011 San Francisco Ocean Film Festival

The 8th Annual San Francisco Ocean Film Festival, featuring more than 50 films from around the world, begins soon, on 9 – 13 March 2011.

The festival aims to explore the beauty and the challenges facing the ocean, as seen through the eyes of the world’s most innovative filmmakers.

Films will explore the ocean and marine life as well how we as humans interact with it by protecting it, playing in it and studying it.

For more information, visit: www.oceanfilmfest.org.

source: Fishlink Sublegals

2nd Annual Palm Beach Marine Flea Market and Seafood Festival

The 2nd Annual Palm Beach Marine Flea Market and Seafood Festival, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 11-13, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the centrally located South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach Fl. The event will be held outside in the parking lot facing Southern Blvd, a West Palm Beach main thoroughfare.

Admission $7.00 a day

Senior Citizens $5.00

Children 12 and under FREE

Special three day pass $12.00

for more information, visit: http://www.flnauticalfleamarket.com/

2011 Indian River Nautical Flea Market and Seafood Festival

The 2nd Annual Indian River Nautical Flea Market and Seafood Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, January 15-16 2011, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Indian River Fairgrounds, Vero Beach, Fl.

The show will feature roughly 400 nautical and marine vendor booths, used Boats, seafood, music with continuous live reggie and island music, boating and fishing seminars, workshops and demonstrations.

The Marine Nautical Tropical Themed Arts and Crafts show will offer a wide range of artists, vendors and other displays.

2010 American River Salmon Festival Canceled

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has announced that the American River Salmon Festival has been canceled for 2010.

DFG and other festival sponsors have had to cancel the event for the second year in a row. Reasons cited for the cancellation include budget and staff cuts experienced by many of the sponsors and partners, as well as state employee furloughs and negative economic conditions.

The annual October celebration is normally held at the Nimbus Hatchery and Lake Natoma, providing the public with a better understanding of, and appreciation for, the American and Sacramento rivers and their connection to the salmon population.

2010 Florida Cedar Key Seafood Festival

For 2010, the 41st Annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival will be held at Cedar Key City Park on October 16 and 17. The festival celebrates the area's fishing heritage with two days of seafood, music, and fun.

The festival features a variety of booths selling local seafood. Cedar Key church groups, school clubs, nonprofits, and oyster and clamming associations are expected to serve fresh grouper sandwiches, oysters, clams, clam fritters, crab cakes, smoked mullet, and all the trimmings. The festival also featured over 200 arts and crafts exhibits, live music, and a parade on Saturday morning.

The historic Seahorse Key Lighthouse is hosting an open house on both days of the festival. The lighthouse is the oldest still standing on Florida's west coast. Visitors can tour the lighthouse, look at the exhibits, and explore the island, which is part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.

The Cedar Key Seafood Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

For information, contact Thelma McCain at (352) 543-5436 or visit www.cedarkey.org/events.html

source: FDACS press release