The Celebrity Chefs Cookin’ Up Gourmet Seafood

We know you’re itchin’ for some fresh seafood—it is a seafood fest after all! But we’ve got you covered with events all week long that will have you seeing every step of the seafood process, from catching it yourself to making the rounds at the main festival. Between then, stop by our Celebrity Chef Master Classes, where top chefs will demo and prepare their gourmet seafood creations. What makes it even better? You’ll be soaking up the secret techniques at the beautiful South Carolina Yacht Club.

Celebrity Chef Demonstration with Ryan Prewitt | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

The James Beard Award winning chef, of Peche in New Orleans, will walk guests through a demonstration of his tried and true techniques and ingredients alongside a beverage pairing. Watch as he cooks up—and provides samples!—a roasted cobia in a Taylor clam broth.

A member of the Fatback Collective—a group of southern chefs with accolades and awards across the south—and a James Beard award winner, Ryan Prewitt is a master in his field. He’s refined his skills and techniques through learning from BBQ pitmasters, traveling to study traditional open-fire cooking, and spending time in the south. These experiences resulted in the opening of Peche Seafood Grill, which has won a James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant.

Celebrity Chef Demonstration with Martin Rios | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 11:30 a.m – 12:30 

Chef Martin Rios, a James Beard Nominee and head chef of Restaurant Martin in Santa Fe, New Mexico, will serve up one of his cookbook specialties, along with techniques, instruction and a beverage pairing. Sample his Tandoori-spiced yellow fin tuna with duck fat roasted carrots, carrot-coconut puree and broccoli crisp. Guests will leave with the recipe and after his demonstration, Chef Rios will be available for a book signing.

Known, and honored, for his innovative flavor, color and presentation combinations, Chef Martin Rios has become a household name. With a focus on fresh, local produce and organic meats, his work focuses on technique and southwestern influences. A multi-semi-finalist of a James Beard Award, Chef Martin Rio is a pioneer of southwest cuisine.

Culinary Master Class with Chef Lee Lucier and Executive Chef Scott Bodkin | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

South Carolina Yacht Club’s very own Chef Lee Lucier and Executive Chef Scott Bodkin will provide an exclusive demonstration featuring two styles of gourmet seafood burgers from two different chefs. Using similar ingredients, you’ll see two unique ways to season your fish and buns to take your seafood burger to the next level.

Chef Lee Lucier is a Lowcountry legend. As a chef, consultant, television producer and food stylist, Lucier is an expert in every aspect of the culinary world and has appeared numerous times at popular food festivals and TV shows including “Good Morning America” and “Restaurant Impossible.” And Executive Chef Scott Bodkin has been firing up the Hilton Head food scene for years, at successful businesses Omni Hotels & Resort, Hilton Hotels & resort, CharBar and now the South Carolina Yacht Club. With a deep respect for the process and techniques of cooking, Chef Scott Bodkin’s culinary creations are works of art.