Creehan tapped to represent Florida at cookoff

Cuvee Bistro's Chef Tim Creehan found out last week that he has been chosen to represent the State of Florida at the Great American Seafood Cookoff Aug. 6 in New Orleans.

Creehan got the call Monday from the Director of Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board.

He worked with the Board in the 1980s.

Creehan said the cookoff began as a competition for chefs in the state of Louisiana and several years ago it was decided to include other states. Now in its seventh year 15-20 states from across the county compete and it is usually televised by the Food Network.

Creehan said he is not sure how he came to be selected and calls to the Board were not answered at press time.

As for the dish he will enter in the competition, Creehan is working on that now.

"I will probably prepare something using Florida indigenous seafood," he said. "I am leaning toward snapper, stone crab, or spiny lobster."

The competition is a one-day event with judging at 4 p.m.

Florida took home the top place honors at last year's cookoff as the state was represented by Chef Dean Max of 3030 Ocean in Fort Lauderdale.