Alabama Gulf Seafood Cooking Class (Gulf Shores)

The Alabama Gulf Seafood Cooking Class at Gulf Shores offers participants a hands-on introduction to preparing the fresh catch that defines coastal Alabama's food culture. Classes are held at the Gulf Coast Convention Center at 550 East Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and run from June through August — the height of Gulf shrimp and summer seafood season along the Alabama coast. The two-hour class focuses on Gulf-sourced ingredients: fresh shrimp, oysters, and seasonal finfish caught in the waters off the Alabama coast. Participants learn preparation techniques specific to Gulf cooking traditions, including shrimp boiling, oyster shucking, and straightforward fresh-fish preparations that let the quality of the catch speak for itself. Classes are led by instructors affiliated with Alabama Gulf Seafood, the promotional body for the state's commercial fishing industry, who provide context about where the ingredients originate and how they are harvested from the Gulf. The class format is participatory rather than demonstration-based; participants handle the seafood directly and prepare a dish they eat together at the conclusion of the session. Class sizes are limited to maintain hands-on engagement for every student. All instruction is in English. The per-person cost of $50 to $75 covers all ingredients and use of the kitchen equipment at the Convention Center. Booking information and current class schedules are available through algulfseafood.com; the Gulf Shores tourism office at +1 251-968-7511 can also provide referrals and scheduling details. The June through August schedule aligns with peak Gulf shrimp season, when the variety and quality of fresh Gulf seafood available for class use is at its highest. The Convention Center's location at 550 East Beach Boulevard places it steps from the Gulf of Mexico, making it straightforward to pair a morning class with an afternoon at Gulf State Park or the public beach.