Chefs Show Their Culinary Creativity And Potential New Red Lobster Menu Items

In Competition

ORLANDO, Fla., May 9 -- How do you measure a chef's love for food?

Today Red Lobster will begin to find out as the nation's largest seafood restaurant company kicks off a two-month competition to show off the future of seafood.

Red Lobster's first ever chefs' culinary competition -- called the C-Games -- is a tribute to the enthusiasm that Red Lobster chefs have for their art.

"It's all about a love of food and giving our crew an opportunity to show creativity," said Dick Rivera, president of Red Lobster. "We are committed to hospitality you can taste, which starts with serious ingredients, proven recipes, and people dedicated to taking care of our guests."

Here is how the games work: Fifty of Red Lobster's finest chefs will demonstrate their culinary knowledge and skills in the C-Games being held throughout North America (please see schedule below).

The Red Lobster chef from each region who creates the hottest new seafood entree will then travel to Napa Valley in July for culinary training at the Culinary Institute of America-Greystone Campus. They will also enjoy four days and three nights of great food and wine during the trip.

Chefs from eight Red Lobster divisions across the United States and Canada will compete in one of three categories: shrimp, regional seafood, and fresh fish. Industry experts and local community leaders in each region will judge entrees on such factors as creativity, taste, appearance, texture, timing and cost.

And what happens to all these great recipes? Red Lobster will consider the winners for future menus in each region. Any entree added to the Red Lobster national or local menu will be named for the entree's creator.

Red Lobster, which has more than 650 restaurants and nearly $2 billion in annual revenues, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI). Darden also operates Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, and Smokey Bones BBQ & Sports Bar restaurants.

               2000 C-Games Divisional Competition Schedule


    Date                           City          Red Lobster Location

    May 9, 2000                Chicago, IL       14750 S. LaGrange Road
                                                 Orland Park, IL, 60462

    May 11, 2000              Indianapolis, IN   690 East Thompson Road
                                                 Indianapolis, IN 46227

    May 16, 2000              Calgary, Alberta   312 35th Street N.E.
                                                  Northgate Village
                                                 Calgary, Alberta T2A 6S7

    May 17, 2000              Dallas, TX        3906 Towne Crossing Blvd.
                                                  Mesquite, TX 75150

    May 24, 2000              Charlotte, NC    9415 Pineville-Mathews Road
                                                  Pineville, NC 28134

    May 24, 2000               Union, NJ        2520 U.S. Hwy. Route 22
                                                  Union, NJ 07083

    May 25, 2000              Orlando, FL      Red Lobster Culinary Center
                                                 6784 Lake Ellenor Drive 32809

    June 14, 2000             Brea, CA          250 Brea Mall Way
                                                 Brea, CA 92821