By Becky Billingsley

Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, Myrtle Beach – Nick Batchelder, a chef at Louis’s at Sanford’s in Pawleys Island, was judged on Friday to be Myrtle Beach’s Next Best Chef at a fund-raiser at Zulu Lounge benefitting Citizens Against Spouse Abuse II.

Batchelder created a healthy and savory dish of Miso Glazed Local Black Drum with Chinese braised turnips and greens in a dashi-ponzu broth. The dish’s flavor layers were complex and intriguing and had a bit of zest from chilies. The chef said he wanted to provide that healthy dining can be as flavorful and enjoyable as other cuisine containing more fat, adding that his entrée had less than 300 calories.

Five judges’ scores had Batchelder winning by one point.

The fan favorite was Seafood Wellington by Chef Kevin Levine from Scatori’s in Surfside Beach. The rich dish had a beautifully browned pastry containing diver scallops in boursin cheese and was topped with sprouts and roasted red pepper strips.