Photo | eatalabamaseafood.com

Bayou La Batre Community Center will be host to this year’s fourth annual Alabama Seafood Cook-Off on Wednesday, June 13. Winner of this contest will go on to represent Alabama at the 15th annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans as well as the 2018 World Food Championships in Orange Beach.

This year’s competitors include Chef Jeremy Downey of Bistro V in Birmingham, Chef Jeremiah Matthews of Southwood Kitchen in Daphne, Chef Jason Ramirez of Villaggio Grille in Orange Beach and Chef Scott Simpson of the Depot in Auburn, all of whom will be competing for the first time, with the exception of Chef Ramirez, who was runner-up at last year’s ASCO.

While Bayou La Batre comes alive with competition, the town’s own Taste of the Bayou event will be running in conjunction. Locals can sample fresh seafood and experience Lower Alabama’s seafood capital for $10 per ticket.

“This year’s contest will prove to be another annual highlight for Alabama’s thriving seafood culture,” said Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and program administrator of the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission. “We congratulate all of the finalists and wish them the best as they work to perfect their recipes for next month’s event.”

Nutter to represent Mobile in wing showdown

It’s a good ways away, but this year’s Southern Wing Showdown — on Sunday, Aug. 5, in Atlanta — will have a Mobile star as a competitor. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 top chefs from the Southeast will be competing for the title, along with Southern National’s Duane Nutter.

This event sells out every year. Get tickets early if you want to make the trip.

Death Wish Coffee hits stores June 9

What’s the buzz? Death Wish Coffee. If you’re looking for a serious caffeine fix you’ll be excited to hear about Death Wish Coffee, the “world’s strongest coffee,” available in Mobile starting June 9 at local Walmart stores.

The $17.95 box of K-Cups use a combination of robusta and arabica beans sourced from India and Peru, resulting in a bold organic coffee that has 200 percent more caffeine than you’re used to.

In 2017 there was a recall of the company’s nitro brew, but now everything seems to be smooth sailing. The Walmart promotion is part of its “Made in America” initiative.

Tickets still available for Hank Shaw dinner

It’s cutting it close, but there are still tickets available for Great Days Outdoors and The Noble South’s Hank Shaw dinner on Thursday, May 31. You’ll get to meet the James Beard Award winner, taste hors d’oeuvres from recipes in his latest cookbook, “Pheasant, Quail, Cottontail,” and receive a signed copy of the book — all for just $75 per person.

To purchase tickets, visit www.thenoblesouthrestaurant.com/hank-shaw/.

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