A stiff wind and cool weather did not deter the hundreds who filled the Tybee Island Pier on Saturday to sample seafood dishes from many of the islands restaurants.

Hunter House Executive Chef Espy Geissler and I judged the competition between local competitors. Here are our results:

Best Taste: Fannie’s on the Beach captured this category for a simple and delicious shrimp slider and fried alligator tail. The slider was simple, but well constructed, seasoned nicely and cooked to perfection. The ‘gator bites were perfect little nuggets that were fried nicely and seasoned with the just the right amount of kick.

Best Appearance: AJ’s Dockside carried home this trophy for it beautiful seafood ceviche – which even looked nice in a foam take-out container. The shrimp cocktail was presented in disposable martini glasses – classy touch!

Best Use of Local Ingredients: And speaking of AJ’s shrimp cocktail, these big, fresh, tasty shrimp came from the Darien, Ga., docks – and epitomized choosing the right local ingredient to highlight a dish.

Best Booth: Marketing pros at The Crab Shack sailed away with this honor. From their photogenic 7-foot-tall alligator to plenty of tropical plants, this booth carried the theme of this popular restaurant right onto the pier. We were also impressed by the amount of kitchen equipment these guys lugged onto the pier – from a full-size refrigerator to three steam tables and a warming cabinet.

If you missed this weekend’s Tybee Island fun, don’t fret. The Tybee Wine Festival is April 17. To learn more about that event, click here.