Nick Rabar of Chow Fun Food Group will represent Rhode Island at the sixth annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans on Saturday, July 18.

Rabar is among more than 20 chefs from across the nation who will vie for the title of King or Queen of American Seafood at the annual competition. Rabar is vice president of operations and corporate executive chef for the local chain owned by Rick and Cheryl Bready and John Elkhay that includes Ten Prime Steak & Sushi, Cafe Noir, Chinese Laundry, Rick's Roadhouse and Luxe Burger.

The Great American Seafood Cook-off is sponsored by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and encourages the use of products from sustainable fisheries. Sig Hansen, the commercial fishing captain who stars in TV's Deadliest Catch, will host the Cook Off.

Rabar, who lives in Rumford, is planning a menu comprising solely local products that have been fished, farmed or produced in Rhode Island.

"We have some of the finest seafood in the world available in our waters, and I plan to showcase Littleneck Clams like you've never seen them before,"
Rabar said.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Rabar was named one of "America's Hottest Chefs" by Spirit, the in-flight magazine of Southwest Airlines, in 2003 and was named "Chef of the Year" by the Rhode Island Hospitality & Tourism Association in 2007.

For more information, visit www.GreatAmericanSeafoodCookoff.com.