UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 35, Page 5
June 25, 1992
Crab cake cook-off deadline July 1

     This year's annual crab cake cook-off is expanding to include a
preliminary contest at the Delaware State Fair, on Monday, July 27, in
Harrington.
     At the preliminary cook-off, all registered entrants will concoct
their best crab cakes for a panel of judges who will choose six
blue-ribbon finalists. Those finalists will be eligible to compete for
cash prizes (first place $125) and the title "Delamarva's Best Crab
Cakes" at Coast Day, Oct. 4, in Lewes.
     Coast Day is the College of Marine Studies' annual educational
festival and showcase for Delaware's rich marine resources.
     The event, now in its 16th year, attracts about 10,000 visitors
to the Marine Studies Complex in Lewes. It has won national awards for
its efforts to promote marine resource education and stewardship.
     "In past years, a panel of seafood experts chose the finalists
based on their written recipes," said Doris Hicks, seafood technology
specialist for the Sea Grant Advisory Service and organizer of the
cook-off. "But because of all the terrific-sounding entries we
received, the judges  were finding it increasingly difficult to narrow
the field down to six finalists on paper. The preliminary round will
give everyone a chance to prove their recipe and cooking skills are
the best."
     Last year's winner was Len Silicki, a boat salesperson and
retired restaurateur who resides in Wilmington.
     The cook-off is sponsored by the University Sea Grant College
Program and College of  Marine Studies.
     The deadline is July 1. Entry forms are available from the
Delaware Sea Grant Advisory Service in Lewes, telephone 645-4346.