Blue Marlin Makes Elite 8

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “It’s a dish that we started here in Columbia in 1994, when we opened the Blue Marlin,” says Ryan Dukes, of Blue Marlin Dukes, son of Blue Marlin Owner, Bill Dukes, is talking about the tasty dish known as ‘Shrimp and Grits.’ “In the beginning, people didn’t understand grits at dinner, people didn’t understand putting shrimp on top of their grits, but it was a shot that we took and I think that everybody’s happy with it now,” says Dukes Judging by the restaurant’s menu, he’s right. It’s listed as ‘Blue Marlin’s Award Winning Shrimp and Grits.’ Dukes tells me the Blue Marlin has been invited to New York, Washington, D.C. and Florida to showcase the dish. But now, the shrimp and grits entree is representing South Carolina as a whole in the ‘Roll Call Taste of America Competition.’ “It’s pretty special to be in the Elite 8,” says John Durst, President and CEO of the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association. Durst says they knew, when picking a restaurant, Blue Marlin was the right one for the job. “Blue Marlin has a tremendous reputation and it’s signature dish Shrimp and Grits, of course is served in other places, but it’s special here,” says Durst Dukes says diners come from all over the country just to taste the dish and, he says, the staff is reporting even more interest since entering the contest. “Since they’ve seen us get in the Elite 8, they have sold more Shrimp and Grits than they have in the past. Because, it’s awareness, people have come in, heard about it, ordered Shrimp and Grits, they want to know what the talk is about,” says Dukes Right now, that talk is taking South Carolina further in the ‘Roll Call Taste of America’ competition than ever before. To vote for Blue Marlin in the competition visit, www.rollcalltasteofamerica.com Voting will end June 7, 2013 at 5:00 p.m., the winner will be announced June 13, 2013.