LRCC is joining forces with Heron Point Seafood and the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NHLRA) to host an exciting new culinary competition for high school students — The Big Crab Cook-Off. Heron Point Seafood is the event sponsor and will be supplying fresh crab for both the practice and competition days. Each team will craft a dish that highlights the crab and their culinary talents.
This event will take place on Tuesday, October 28, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at LRCC, and it promises to be a celebration of creativity and skill.
The Teams
Eight schools will be competing: Concord Regional Technical Center, Concord; Dover Regional Career Technical Center, Dover; Mount Washington Valley Career and Technical Center, North Conway; North Point CTE, Colebrook; Pinkerton Academy, Derry; Plymouth Regional High School, Plymouth; Portsmouth High School, Portsmouth; and White Mountains Regional High School, Whitefield. Each school will send one team of 2–3 students enrolled in Culinary 1 or Culinary 2. These rising chefs will represent their programs in a fast-paced, friendly challenge that showcases their skills.
Event Schedule
- 4:00–4:15 PM – Welcome and Overview
- 4:15–5:30 PM – Mise en Place, Cooking, and Plating
- 5:30–7:00 PM – Judging, Awards, and Pizza
Judging Criteria
Each team will present one plate and explain their crab selection and dish concept. Judges will score based on:
- Taste and Flavor
- Knife Skills and Technique
- Creativity
- Plating and Presentation
Awards & Prizes
Heron Point Seafood will be awarding some great prizes for the winning teams!
- The top 3 teams will receive cash prizes for their schools and team members
- Special recognition awards will be given for standout moments and creativity
We can’t wait to see what these talented students cook up. Huge thanks to Heron Point Seafood for making this incredible experience possible.
May the best dish win!
About Heron Point Seafood
Heron Point Seafood is a dedicated supporter of the next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals. In addition to sponsoring the ProStart Boot Camp and the ProStart National Invitational, they’re a valued partner of the New Hampshire ProStart State Invitational — serving as competition timers and providing expert judges to help maintain a standard of excellence. Heron Point’s commitment doesn’t stop at competitions. Each year, they award two $5,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors pursuing post-secondary education in culinary arts, hospitality, or tourism — a remarkable investment in the industry’s future.
About the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association
The New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association Education Foundation is committed to inspiring the next generation of hospitality leaders and developing our current generation through the promotion of career pathways, connecting students and industry, and providing scholarships to encourage students to pursue post-secondary education in the hospitality industry. The New Hampshire Hospitality Employee Relief Fund (NHHERF) supports employees of the hospitality industry who are impacted by unforeseen emergencies.