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Photo of Christopher Albrecht and John Crawford Koeniger - Click to enlarge
Middlesex County Chef Competes in New Orleans Against Chefs from 13 Other States

For Immediate Release: August 20, 2013
Contact: Lynne Richmond            
(609) 633-2954

(TRENTON) – First Lady Mary Pat Christie and New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today offered their congratulations to the state’s top seafood chef Christopher Albrecht whose preparation of Golden Tilefish and Green Vegetable Chowder earned him third place in the Great American Seafood Cook Off in New Orleans on August 3.

“Congratulations to the Garden State’s Chef Christopher Albrecht for demonstrating his culinary excellence with our bountiful Jersey Seafood and Jersey Fresh produce,” said First Lady Mary Pat Christie. “His achievements in New Orleans shine a bright light on New Jersey and our thriving seafood industry.

Albrecht, the Executive Chef at Eno Terra in Kingston, and his sous chef, John Crawford Koeniger, represented New Jersey in the national competition against the top seafood chefs from Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Texas.

“Chef Albrecht has made New Jersey proud and helped showcase our $211 million seafood industry,” said Secretary Fisher.  “His signature dish highlighted both Jersey Seafood and Jersey Fresh produce.” 

Chef David Crews, who represented Mississippi was crowned the 2013 King of American Seafood for his Southern Nicoise Salad which featured crab and tuna.  In second place was Chef Eric Stumpf of New Mexico.

“Being able to represent New Jersey and show off the Garden State on a national stage was incredibly important,” said Albrecht.  “New Jersey has some of the best chefs in the country, and our showing at the Great American Seafood Cook-off is a testament to the quality of our state’s seafood and chefs.”

Albrecht, Executive Chef at Eno Terra in Kingston, became the state’s top seafood chef when he competed against five other premier seafood chefs from around the state at the Jersey Seafood Challenge, hosted by the First Lady and the Department of Agriculture, on June 20 at Drumthwacket, the Governor’s residence in Princeton. 

At Eno Terra, Albrecht said he focuses on high quality seasonal ingredients from small, family-owned farms and producers.  He also oversees a two-acre farm that produces most of the produce used at Eno Terra.

Albrecht grew up on Long Beach Island and attended the Culinary Institute of America.  After graduation, Albrecht went to work in Manhattan at Danny Meyer’s world renowned Gramercy Tavern.  There, he worked closely with “Top Chef” Tom Colicchio before assuming the role of Executive Chef at Craftsteak Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

The Great American Seafood Cook-off was held during the Louisiana Foodservice Expo in the Morial Convention Center, and is sponsored by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and presented by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board.  New Jersey has a significant seafood industry.  In 2011, New Jersey fishermen reeled in 175.5 million pounds of seafood, valued at $211.7 million.  It is estimated these landings generated a billion dollars of economic activity.  The industry also generates thousands of jobs, with 2,500 commercial fishermen, and 1,500 employed by 109 seafood processors/dealers.

The top species by dollar value harvested in New Jersey included:  sea scallops; surf clams; oysters; hard clams; blue crabs; ocean quahogs; and, fluke.

For more information about New Jersey seafood, visit the Jersey Seafood website at www.jerseyseafood.nj.gov.