EVENTS: ALABAMA OYSTER HAPPY HOUR RAISES FUNDS FOR MY CHEFS CYCLE RIDE!

DID I ACTUALLY SAY I WOULD RIDE A BICYCLE 300 MILES IN 3 DAYS? WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

Let me start out by saying that even though I have not ridden a bike in 20 something years, when my friend Jason Roberts called me out to ride for his annual Chefs Cycle bike ride to raise money for No Kid Hungry, I said yes immediately. I said yes because there should not be children who go hungry in America and if riding a bike will help bring awareness and raise money to help, I felt like I should try. Jason has brought chefs from around the USA together to ride from Carmel to Santa Barbara for this cause with the goal of raising $1 million dollars to help end childhood hunger in America.

chefs cycle ride no kid hungry 2016

I started training by going to the gym a few times per week. Eventually, I started riding. As of today, I'm riding up to 50 miles.... about 1/2 of what I'll have to ride each day in California.

I am the only chef from Alabama riding... and I'm still a bit from my goal so several of my food friends are helping me with the final push before I depart. Please come out and join us on Wednesday, June 22nd from 5PM-9PM for a special HAPPY HOUR OYSTER SOCIAL at Five Point Public House and Oyster Bar.  Money from the evening's festivities will be donated to my ride. Here are the details:

WHAT: HAPPY HOUR OYSTER TASTING & BEER PAIRING

You'll sample oysters provided by Alabama Gulf Seafood, Steel City Seafood, and Bon Secour Fisheries from some of lower Alabama's best and most highly acclaimed oyster farms: Point Aux Pins, Isle Dauphine, and Massacre Island Oyster Ranch. Our oysters are having a moment right now; you'll find them in the best restaurants around the country. Come taste what the fuss is all about! My friends from Back Forty Beer Company will be there and we'll suggest pairings with the different oysters. There will be giveaways, swag, and a signed copy of my cookbook, Birmingham's Best Bites for each guest who donates to my ride.

WHERE: 5 POINT PUBLIC HOUSE & OYSTER BAR  located on the Southside at 1210 20th Street South Birmingham, Alabama.

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 FROM 5PM-9PM

No tickets required. Donations will gladly be accepted and a percentage of all sales will be donated to No Kid Hungry by Chef Reis.

Brad from Back Forty Beer, Chef George Reis from Ocean and 5 Point Public House Oyster Bar, Jason from Oyster Obsession, and Chef Jim Smith from Alabama Gulf Seafood helped raise money for my No Kid Hungry/Chefs Cycle ride.

Brad from Back Forty Beer, Chef George Reis from Ocean and 5 Point Public House Oyster Bar, Jason from Oyster Obsession, and Chef Jim Smith from Alabama Gulf Seafood helped raise money for my No Kid Hungry/Chefs Cycle ride.

UPDATE: HOORAY!!!! WE RAISED OVER $1,000 FOR NO KID HUNGRY WITH THIS EVENT. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ATTENDED AND TO MY GOOD FRIEND JASON AT OYSTER-OBSESSION.COM FOR HELPING GET THE WORD OUT. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO 5 POINT PUBLIC HOUSE OYSTER BAR AND STAFF, CHEF REIS, ALABAMA GULF SEAFOOD, BACK FORTY BEER, BON SECOUR FISHERIES, STEEL CITY SEAFOOD, POINT AUX PINS, MASSACRE ISLAND, AND ISLE DAUPHIN OYSTERS AND RED MOUNTAIN RADIO FOR MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE.

CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME!

Martie Duncan for No Kid Hungry
Ready for the Alabama Oyster Happy Hour with Birmingham's Best Bites cookbooks to give away!
Alabama Farmed Oysters showcased at the Alabama Oyster Happy Hour included: Point Aux Pins, Massacre Island Oyster Ranch, and Isle Dauphine.

Alabama Farmed Oysters showcased at the Alabama Oyster Happy Hour included: Point Aux Pins, Massacre Island Oyster Ranch, and Isle Dauphine.

EVENT REPORT: HANGOUT OYSTER COOKOFF 2015

It is hard to believe that 2015 is winding down- and that "Oyster" has come and gone! We had an amazing weekend in Gulf Shores and if you missed it, you missed a party! This was my fourth year to host the Hangout's Oyster Cookoff... and this was the biggest year yet with more teams. more celebrity chefs, more oysters, and even the first ever North American Oyster Showcase. This year's lineup included Food Network Chefs Anne Burrell, Marc Murphy, Michele Ragussis, Ippy Aiona, and Jason Roberts. We had such a good time!

We arrived into town early for press and that left us a lot of time for fun. From our basecamp at Turquoise Place in Orange Beach, we cooked dinner every night in the expansive and well-stocked kitchens and spent the days on Alabama's beautiful beaches right in front of the condo. My chefs from elsewhere are always shocked at Alabama's beautiful beaches- we had an awesome afternoon stand-up paddleboarding on the Gulf. Actually, I did not stand up too long but it was a ton of fun! That tiny dot in the one photo is Jason. Thank you to Ryan at Perdido Beach Services for delivering our paddleboards to us! 

We threw a "family supper" pot luck on Sunday night in one of the five bedroom penthouse units... Jason made paella, Michele made her famous meatballs with spaghetti, Anne made a jambalaya, and I made homemade apple tarts with bourbon caramel sauce and ice cream. I had some Nashville friends pop in to play: Marc-Alan Barnette and Jimbeau Hinton were a big hit with everyone. Turquoise Place is such a wonderful part of our Oyster Cookoff weekend; although the days are long and the work is tough, when you have such a lovely place to come home to each night... plus the hot tub out on each balcony.... well, you really never want to leave.

We went fishing with our buddy Captain Marty from Salty Dog Fishing Charters who always finds the fish! There was some smack talk and wagering going on-- being the ultimate host, I had to allow my guests the victory, of course.

We had a fun night at karaoke- one of Chef Burrell's favorite things to do. Check out our duet photo below. There is also video of Jason Roberts dancing but I've promised not to post it.

It is the people behind the scenes who get none of the glory and deserve all of it. None of this weekend could happen without my team- they are dedicated professionals and work so hard. I could not do what I do without them. Special thanks to my team leaders Rayme, Nicole, and Stacy and to our entire service staff and volunteers including Fran and Ulrike for making sure everyone was well taken care of all day long.

Rayme has been with me for 3 Hangout Oyster events. The show could NOT go on without her! This shot is my favorite from the weekend. It shows her prepping for the next chef. Head down- focused. Rayme, you are a rock star! People always ask me about …

Rayme has been with me for 3 Hangout Oyster events. The show could NOT go on without her! This shot is my favorite from the weekend. It shows her prepping for the next chef. Head down- focused. Rayme, you are a rock star! People always ask me about my plating- it is another Alabama treasure from my good friend Tena Payne at Earthborn Pottery! Gorgeous, isn't it?

Another huge thank you to my Food Network Star season 8 family: Michele Ragussis and Ippy Aiona. This was their 3rd Hangout Oyster Cookoff and they not only pitch in and do a lot of the work, they make it so much fun for me and for the fans. Alabama loves you!

Thanks are not enough for Chef Jim Smith and Chef Jake Reed and to our crew of culinary volunteers! You rocked it! Special thanks to Chefs Paul, Chris, and Veronica and their culinary students from the Culinard program. You all made a huge difference! Thank you!

Martie Duncan Events 360 Hangout Oyster Cookoff

This team rocked the Hangout Oyster Cookoff 2015! Could not have done it without you!

Martie Duncan Hangout Oyster Cookoff

Here are some photos of the Hangout Oyster Cookoff 2015. Make plans to join us next year!

EVENTS: FIRST ANNUAL ALABAMA GULF SEAFOOD COOKOFF AND WINNERS!

What a weekend of great food events across Alabama!

It started on Friday with the first ever Alabama Gulf Seafood Cookoff held in Montgomery as the kickoff to the Southern Maker's weekend. I was Emcee for the event held during the VIP party at the magnificent E.A.T. South Farm facility in downtown Montgomery. The cook-off was created to find the best seafood chef to represent Alabama in the Great American Seafood Cook-off. Invited chefs submitted a recipe utilizing Alabama Gulf seafood for consideration. After the judges deliberated and voted, four finalists were selected.

From left: Alabama Gulf Seafood Chairman Jim Smith, Chefs Miguel Figueroa, Chef Brandon Burleson, Chef George Reis, and Chef Brody Olive at the First Annual Alabama Gulf Seafood Cook-off.

From left: Alabama Gulf Seafood Chairman Jim Smith, Chefs Miguel Figueroa, Chef Brandon Burleson, Chef George Reis, and Chef Brody Olive at the First Annual Alabama Gulf Seafood Cook-off.

Finalists then competed in the cook-off with their submitted recipes; each chef was allowed one sous chef to assist and each two-man team had one hour to complete their dish and present it to the judges. They were:

Brandon Burleson, Executive Sous Chef, Voyager's Restaurant at Perdido Beach Resort, Perdido Beach, Alabama presented Pecan and Herb Crusted Red Snapper.

Miguel Figueroa, Executive Chef, The A&P Social and Kudzu Noodle Bar, Montgomery, Alabama presented Roasted Red Snapper, Royal Red Shrimp, Braised Mushrooms, Corn Butter, and Collard Green Gnocchi.

Brody Olive, Executive Chef for Spectrum Resorts properties located on Alabama's Gulf Coast including Turquoise Place, The Beach Club, and Caribe Resort presented Pan Roasted Alabama Cobia with Toasted Cumin and Coriander Bayou la Batre Crab, Blistered Okra, Honeysuckle Scented Corn Puree, Pea Shoots and Pickled Okra Seeds.

George Reis: Owner/Executive Chef, Ocean Restaurant, Birmingham, Alabama presented Cumin Coriander Crusted Grouper with Smoked Alabama Shrimp Sausage, English Pea Hummus, Sand Mountain Tomato Jam Pickled Carrots, Radishes and Preserved Lemon Oil. Chef Reis is also featured in my Birmingham's Best Bites cookbook for a different Grouper recipe. Try that one if you have purchased the cookbook! Order it now from Amazon.com

In the end, Chef Reis' outstanding grouper recipe was selected as the winner and Chef Burleson came in second. All of the dishes were absolutely fantastic. Congratulations to the chefs and Alabama Gulf Seafood for another stellar event. I'll post recipes for you in the coming weeks. I hope you'll cook them at home or stop in to visit these fine chefs at their restaurants if you have the opportunity!