Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL - By winning the Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge presented by Zatarain's, The Flora-Bama Yacht Club qualified to compete in the World Food Championships held in Kissimmee, Fla., the second week of November.

Upon arriving Chef Chris Sherrill, Chef Haikel Harris, and their team competed in the "Food Fight" Competition where they placed first with a score of 116 out 120 for their signature Lionfish Nachos. A few days later they competed in the opening round of the World Seafood Championship where they finished fifth with a score of 91.625.

Finishing in the top ten of the opening round secured their spot in the Seafood Finals. Chef Chris and Chef Haikel turned up the heat in the finals where they turned in a score of 91.125. The combined scores from both rounds earned the Flora-Bama Yacht Club a third place overall finish in the World Seafood Championship.

The journey for the Flora-Bama Yacht Club began back in August when they competed in the Eighth Annual Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge presented by Zatarain's.

The event took place at the Faulkner State Culinary Campus in Gulf Shores where 25 Alabama Gulf Coast restaurants competed head to head for prize money, cookware, and the "Golden Ticket" to the World Food Championships. The Yacht Club won the competition with their Gulf Shrimp Pygmy Tacos.

"We couldn't be more proud," said Matt Mogan, Shrimp Festival Chairman. "Chef Chris and his team went down there and competed against some of the best chefs in the world and represented the Alabama Gulf Coast and its people well."

Last year's Restaurant Challenge winner, Chef Brandon Burleson also competed again in the World Seafood Championship and earned a 13th place finish.

With their top 10 finish, Chef Chris and the Flora-Bama Yacht Club are automatically qualified to compete in the 2016 competition.

The Ninth Annual Restaurant Challenge will take place in August 2016 and will once again be a preferred qualifier for the World Food Championships. For more information visit myshrimpfest.com or call Owen Corcoran at 251-968-7200.