{"id":30006,"date":"2026-08-31T17:45:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T21:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=30006"},"modified":"2026-08-31T17:45:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T21:45:22","slug":"media-advisory-four-chefs-to-compete-at-the-battle-of-the-bay-blue-catfish-cook-off-at-the-maryland-state-fair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2026\/08\/31\/media-advisory-four-chefs-to-compete-at-the-battle-of-the-bay-blue-catfish-cook-off-at-the-maryland-state-fair\/","title":{"rendered":"MEDIA ADVISORY: Four Chefs to Compete at the Battle of the Bay: Blue Catfish Cook-Off at the Maryland State Fair"},"content":{"rendered":"

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 31, 2026)—<\/b>The Maryland Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Lottery and Maryland State Fair, is taking on the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s wild-caught blue catfish problem by offering a cash prize to the chef that can turn it into the tastiest dish! While highly invasive, the fish is high in nutritious value and offers a tasty, white, flaky meat that is versatile in cooking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fair attendees are welcome to help determine the winner by tasting all four dishes at the Maryland State Fair on Saturday, September 5 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET. Participants will receive free recipe cards for each dish and a coupon to shop for wild-caught blue catfish at <\/span>Redner\u2019s Market<\/span><\/a> locations throughout Maryland. The first-place winner will receive $1,000, a Maryland\u2019s Best chef coat, trophy and blue catfish hat! Thank you to <\/span>Reliant Fish Company<\/span><\/a> for donating the wild-caught blue catfish for the competition! <\/span><\/p>\n

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