By Becky Billingsley

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, Myrtle Beach - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are asking Grand Strand area chefs to think outside the batter's box and enter unique recipes for the baseball organization's Second Annual Home Run Recipe Contest.

Pelicans Director of Food and Beverage, Brad Leininger, is inviting his colleagues to submit recipes for the Second Annual contest. In 2011, Chef John Venuti of Captain John's Seafood Grill in Pawleys Island took home the grand prize for his Signature Lobster Roll. Part of the prize package is that the winning chef's recipe is recreated and sold at the ball park during the season.

"His recipe added a little more variety to the selections here at the ballpark, and fans loved it," Leininger says. "This year we would like the entries to exhibit regional flair with a little 'off the wall' and 'outside of the box.' Nothing is too creative."

To enter, chefs should submit recipes to Brad@MyrtleBeachPelicans by Friday, March 9. The dish must be able to retail for no more than $10, and food cost should be 30 to 45 percent. One entry per restaurant and/or person are allowed.

Pelicans staff members and Leininger will select five finalists from all the entries. They'll be judged on creativity, cost, taste, appearance and viable application in a baseball environment.

The five finalists will come to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans stadium, at a date and time to be determined, before the season opener to prepare their dishes in a final competition.

If any potential contestants would like a list of concession items currently offered at the ballpark, send Leininger an email, and he will forward the list.

The winning chef's prizes include:

*A Pelicans Baseball prize package

*The winning recipe, with the chef's name on it, will be served during the 2012 season at Pelicans Stadium in the concessions area and in Pelicans Restaurant. Leininger notes more than 200,000 baseball fans will see this.

*A one-year advertising package from MyrtleBeachRestaurantNews.com, plus a stock pot compliments of MBRN filled with culinary tools and swag.