Monterey Bay fishermen and chefs join forces to celebrate local seafood with the 2nd annual Get Hooked restaurant week.
Sustainable seafood takes center plate in Monterey County during the week-long promotion, Jan. 20 – 27th, 2020, in conjunction with California Restaurant Month and Carmel Culinary Week
January 20 - 27, 2020
Sablefish dish that was featured at Poppy Hall during Get Hooked in 2019. Poppy Hall returns as a participating restaurant in 2020.
Monterey is known far-and-wide as a world-class destination that harbors a thriving culinary scene. At the same time, the Monterey Bay is steeped in fishing heritage and continues to boast ports where local fishermen land and bring dozens of sustainably-caught fish species to market.
To increase awareness about and access to local, sustainable seafood, Get Hooked restaurant week looks to leverage the region’s culinary prowess by bringing restaurants and fishermen together for the second annual Get Hooked restaurant week Jan. 20 – 27. More than a dozen restaurants in Carmel, Monterey and Pacific Grove will participate by featuring dishes using products harvested by resident fishermen and women from the pristine waters of the Monterey Bay.
“Until very recently, the dialogue about sustainable seafood has largely centered around science and regulations with relatively little mention of the people harvesting the products,” says Roger Burleigh, marketing and supply chain manager for the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust. “The intent of Get Hooked is to spotlight members of our community who are involved in getting local catch from boat to forks, including fishermen, distributors, chefs, and restaurants. It celebrates Monterey Bay’s fishermen and women whose passion for their profession and our marine environment runs as deep as Monterey Canyon.”
Through their craft, chefs will introduce residents and visitors alike to the variety of seafood that’s in season and traceable back to fishermen. Many of the species, including rock crab, black cod, and rockfish such as chilipepper and bocaccio, are often underrepresented on menus and fish counters. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program recommends all U.S. West Coast groundfish as either a Best Choice or Good Alternative.
Salvatore ‘Sal’ Tedesco, owner and executive chef at Paluca Trattoria holding a sablefish delivered by Charlie Lambert from local vendor partner, Ocean2Table.
“My father was a commercial fisherman, so this is personal,” says Sal Tedesco, owner and chef of Paluca Trattoria on Monterey’s Fisherman's Wharf. “It’s so important to let customers know who caught their fish and where it came from. There’s a smile from ear to ear every time I show them a lingcod caught right here in the Monterey Bay.”
“I think it’s a great thing that restaurants are taking on the responsibility of informing the public about what’s unique and good locally,” says Captain Skylar Campbell, who fishes for rock crab, rockfish, salmon and spot prawns out of Monterey. “If we’re able to educate consumers and create a demand for local fish it will give greater economic opportunity to local fishermen. It’s encouraging to see Get Hooked blossom.”
Participating restaurants include Grasing’s, Rise & Roam, and Seventh and Dolores Steakhouse in Carmel; Monterey Bay Aquarium, The C Restaurant + Bar, Fish Hopper, Montrio Bistro, Old Fisherman’s Grotto, Paluca Trattoria, Osteria Al Mare, Schooners Coastal Kitchen & Bar, The Wild Plum Café, and Scales in Monterey; and Poppy Hall and Wild Fish in Pacific Grove.
Several social media contests will also be running before and during the event as a way to engage diners. Prizes will be awarded for posts with the best use of fish puns (use #bestfishforward from Jan 13 - 19th) and for the best photo taken during the event (use #gethooked2020). Details can be found at www.gethookedmontereybay.com
In concert with Get Hooked, Monterey Bay Food Tours will be premiering a new, seafood-focused tour that includes several participating restaurants as stops. Tours will run on Thursday 1/23 and Saturday 1/25 @ 11:00 a.m. For details and to book visit https://www.montereybayfoodtours.com
GET HOOKED IS SponsorED BY:
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Repass-Rodgers Family Foundation, City of Monterey, Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, Fisherman’s Wharf Association, Silver Bay Seafoods California LCC, Edible Monterey Bay, and The Shagbag Show.
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Get Hooked is organized by the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust and a Steering Committee that includes Ocean2Table and Real Good Fish and in collaboration with with fishermen, restaurants, chefs, and fishmongers throughout the region.
Commercial fishing boats in Monterey harbor. ©David HIlls