Sweet Basil Chef Paul Anders competes in New Orleans

Vail Daily News - Vail,CO,USA - Paul Anders, executive chef at Sweet Basil in Vail, competed successfully in the Fifth Annual Great American Seafood Cook-off this weekend in New Orleans.

Anders won top chef in the first day of competition, which allowed each of the 14 competing chefs to cook their own masterpieces using seafood from their respective states.

“I wanted to fix something that was fresh and sustainable … something clean, bright and simple,” Anders said. His recipe, Colorado Striped Bass with Truffle and Olathe Corn Emulsion, used local produce and fish farmed in the San Luis Valley. He created it specifically for the competition.