MA Chef To Represent State At National Seafood Cook-Off

BOSTON, MA — A Boston-based chef will represent the Bay State at a national seafood competition in New Orleans this weekend.

Chef Quang Tran, executive chef for Happy You’re Here Hospitality Group, has been selected to represent Massachusetts at the 22nd annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off on Saturday at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Tran will compete against chefs from across the country for the title of "King" or "Queen of American Seafood."

Tran, who lives in South Boston, leads culinary programs for several Massachusetts restaurants, including Cocolee in Somerville, Sullivan’s Public House in Charlestown, Shawmut Inn in Boston’s South End, The Club Car on Nantucket and Nantucket Tap Room.

He will be joined in the competition by sous chef Crystal Hovland. The pair will prepare a duo of New England lobster: a tempura lobster lollipop with lime granita and citrus aioli, and lobster ceviche with roasted corn, yuzu, pink peppercorn, crispy sweet potato and green crab nage.

“Every element of this dish was intentional,” Tran said. “It was important to me to pay homage to the ingredients and cooking traditions of Massachusetts while remaining true to the immigrant story and the sustainability challenges that are part of our state’s culinary narrative.”

Tran was born in Vietnam, and his family immigrated from Ho Chi Minh City to Minnesota when he was 11. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, he worked in kitchens including The Atlantic Room at Kiawah Island, Liquid Art House, RFK Kitchen and Nantucket Prime before joining Happy You’re Here Hospitality Group.

The Great American Seafood Cook-Off was created by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board in 2004 to promote domestic, sustainable seafood.

Massachusetts chefs have consistently excelled at the competition. Chef Erin Miller of Urban Hearth won the national title in 2022 and 2024, while Chef Kyle McClelland (Saltie Girl), Chef Marc Orfaly (ReelHouse) and Chef Denise Herrera (Red Heat Tavern) each finished as runner-up. Chef Scott Ryan of Moona represented Massachusetts in 2025.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 11 a.m., with the first chef beginning to cook at 11:30 a.m.

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