An Atlanta chef beat out competitors from across the state to take the title of "Georgia's Best Shrimp & Grits" over the weekend at the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival .
Chef Andrew Smith of West Egg Cafe edged out Jeremy Collins, the chef de cuisine at The National in Athens, who took second place, and Chef Jamie Cadden of Blackwater Grill on St. Simons Island, who finished in third.
Smith, who was the only chef to cook the entire dish by himself against eight other teams of two or three, also won $2,000 and the opportunity to cook his dish for Governor Nathan Deal and his wife, Sandra.
Competitors were chosen through an online poll from a list of nominees. Up to three restaurants were nominated in each region, and visitors could vote for nominees in any and all regions.
Georgia native Smith joined West Egg in August 2015 after working at Atlanta restaurants including Horseradish Grill, Atkin’s Park and Ormsby’s.
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