Sea Watch International will host its third annual Creative Clam Challenge at the 2010 International Boston Seafood Show.
Two finalists will compete in a head-to-head competition to decide the champion at Sea Watch’s booth at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on 14 March.
Unlike previous years where the competition was limited to students from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., this year’s competition is open to culinary students from across the United States. Contestants will be given Sea Watch’s whole ocean clams and will have until 12 February to submit their recipes along with a digital photo. Eligible categories for recipes include appetizers, salads and entrées. Soups, chowders and bisques are not eligible.
Two finalists will be chosen out of 20 entries on 15 February by members of Sea Watch’s marketing, research and development staff. The finalists will arrive at the International Boston Seafood Show on Saturday 13 March, where they will prepare and fine tune their creations before they present them to show attendees, who will vote on the winner. After the votes are tallied, the winner will be announced immediately on the show floor.
The winner of the 2010 Creative Clam Challenge will receive USD 2,500, and the runner up will get USD 1,000.
The winner of the 2009 Creative Clam Challenge was Diego Martinez, who wowed attendees with his Clam and Chorizo Empanadas with Green Onion and Sour Cream Sauce. The 2008 winner was William Long with his Clam and Grits.
“The goal of the Creative Clam Challenge is to expand the awareness and value of the domestic clam resource and to showcase the nutritional value of these clams and the power of their versatility when put in the hands of uncompromised culinary minds,” said Guy Simmons, VP of marketing, research and development for Sea Watch.
Sea Watch is the largest U.S. processor and marketer of offshore clams.
