MD: Galena woman wins national oyster cook-off

News Date October 27, 2009

Jackie Hardin, of Galena, Md., won the Grand prize and First Place in the Main Dish category of the 30th Annual National Oyster Cook-off for her dish “Oyster Tacos with Chipotle Cream Sauce.”  Hardin won $1,300 and a silver tray.  The oysters were fried in seasoned cornmeal then placed in soft tortilla shells with coleslaw and chipotle cream sauce.  This recipe is an easy to prepare and delicious fun way to cook oysters.

“On behalf of the Maryland Department of Agriculture, I congratulate the winners of the 30th Annual National Oyster Cook-off for their creative and fun recipes that feature one of our treasured Chesapeake Bay's most recognizable icons,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “Oysters are critical to our economy, our environment and our State’s identity.”               

In the Soups & Stews category, Jim McDuffie of Durham, NC, took home first place and $300 for his recipe “Outer Banks Poached Oysters on Smoked Pimento Cheese Grits with Fried Green Tomato Croutons.”  The oysters were poached in a seasoned broth with potatoes, bell peppers, and salt pork belly and then served over grits with smoked cheese.

Brendan Cahill, the 2008 Grand Prize winner from Lusby, Md., received first place and $300 in the Hors D’oeuvres category for his dish “Beach house Oysters with Sherry.”  The dish consisted of oysters on the half shell topped with a sauce made from butter, mushrooms, seasonings, sherry and egg yolks, and then baked.

The People’s Choice and Best Presentation awards went to Loic Jaffres of Leonardtown, Md., for his “Oysters Bourguignon in Puff”.  The oysters were cooked in wine, shallots, and pancetta and placed in puff pastry shaped like oyster shells. 

The 30th Annual National Oyster Cook-off was sponsored by the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Seafood & Aquaculture Program, Rotary Club of Lexington Park, and St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development.  The event was held at the St. Mary’s Oyster Festival in Leonardtown, MD.  A cookbook containing 31 award winning oyster recipes is available by sending a check for $8 to National Oyster Cook-off, P.O. Box 653, D.E.C.D., Leonardtown, MD 20650.