By Charles W. Kim
Kingston’s Eno Terra Chef Christopher Albrecht showed other culinary experts that he knows his tuna.
Mr. Albrecht placed second last week during a state sponsored seafood cook-off at the Drumthwacket governor’s mansion in Princeton.
"It was a very good natured competition," Mr. Albrecht, 39, said Friday. "The chefs put themselves out there."
The 2011 Jersey Seafood Challenge was held June 30 and included First Lady Mary Pat Christie as one of the judges.
"New Jersey has a vibrant and thriving seafood industry," said Mrs. Christie. "These talented chefs prepared an outstanding lineup of dishes that demonstrated the superior quality of our bountiful Jersey Seafood and Jersey Fresh produce. Thanks to all 16 competitors and the restaurants they represent for participating today."
Mr. Albrecht came in second place with a dish prepared from Big Eye Tuna.
"I chose Big Eye Tuna because it is responsibly caught and is in a sustainable and well managed fishery," Mr. Albrecht said.
The event was sponsored by Anheuser Busch, New Jersey Restaurant Association, Garden State Seafood Association, Atlantic Cape Fisheries, Inc., Barney’s Dock, Cape May Foods, Dock Street Seafood, Fisherman’s Dock Co-Op, Inc., Harbor House Seafood, Lund’s Fisheries, Inc., The Lobster House and Viking Village, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office.
Princeton Chef Scott Anderson, owner of Elements, won first place and will go on as one of just 20 chefs nationwide to compete in the Great American Seafood Cook-off in New Orleans, according to the release.
The outdoor competition had its own challenges, according to Mr. Albrecht.
"We were blessed to have a perfect day," Mr. Albrecht said. "The competition was entirely outside and there is always the unknown of outside elements."
Mr. Albrecht said all of the ingredients used in his dish came from New Jersey and he decided to prepare a dish that anyone could make without taking up too much time.
"We had an hour to prepare 10 servings," Mr. Albrecht said.
State officials and seafood industries hope the competition sheds light on this part of our state’s economy, according to the release.
Home to six major fishing ports, New Jersey fishermen reeled in 161.6 million pounds of seafood in 2009, valued at more than $149 million at all port combined. Four ports rank among the top 15 ports on the Eastern Seaboard – Cape May (3rd), Atlantic City (9th), Barnegat Light (10th) and Point Pleasant (11th). And, Cape May is the fifth largest port in the nation, hauling in 63.9 million pounds of seafood valued at $73.4 million, according to the release.
New Jersey fishermen land more than 100 varieties of finfish and shellfish. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ranked the state first in the nation for pounds of shellfish landed in 2009, with $28.3 million pounds valued at $8.1 million.
The state also ranked first in the landings of clams or bivalves, with 45.3 million pounds worth $27.5 million. In 2009, New Jersey ranked second in the nation in scallop landings with 14 million pounds valued at $90.1 million, according to the release.
