“Get Hooked” Restaurant Week Celebrates Sustainable Local Seafood and the Fishermen Who Catch It
California Restaurant Month promotion spotlights Monterey Bay seafood Jan. 14-21, 2019
December 21, 2018
Sablefish/black cod caught by Jerry Wetle (F/V Pacific Bully) served with red pepper puree and blistered shishito peppers from Borba Farms at Wild Fish. Photo credit: Executive Chef Joshua Plesh
Monterey is kicking off 2019 with chefs and fishermen putting their best fish forward!
More than a dozen restaurants in Monterey County will show their support for local fishermen by featuring local seafood during Get Hooked restaurant week, an official program of California Restaurant Month. Running from January 14-21, 2019, Get Hooked invites visitors and residents to indulge in fish freshly harvested from Monterey Bay.
“Commercial fishing is an icon of Monterey’s history, yet most consumers are unaware that 90 percent of the seafood we eat in the US today is imported,” said Roger Burleigh, marketing and supply chain manager for the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust. “Monterey Bay provides an abundance of sustainable seafood options. We want to draw attention back to our local seafood bounty and the incredible fishermen who catch it.”
Participating restaurants will feature entrées of seasonal, local fish. A spotlight will be on rockfish, a mildly sweet and flaky fish; and sablefish (aka black cod), which is gaining popularity due to its rich, buttery flesh laden with omega-3 fatty acids. Each seafood entrée will include information about the fisherman and vessel that hauled it in. All of the featured fish are recommended by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and rated as either a Best Choice or Good Alternative.
“Many of our Monterey Bay groundfish species, once depleted, have made an astonishing recovery and are now being rediscovered by local chefs and consumers,” said Barbara Meister, public affairs director at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. “It’s time to reward the hard work and tenacity of local fishermen, who have changed their practices to support a sustainable groundfish harvest. We invite diners to share in this conservation success story by enjoying a taste of Monterey Bay’s best fish.”
“Get Hooked is a celebration of Monterey Bay’s sustainably caught seafood. Our local seafood story is a critical part of attracting visitors to this world-class destination. This promotion puts a spotlight on our hard-working fishing community and the masterful chefs who, together, deliver inspiring culinary experiences.” added Rob O’Keefe, chief marketing officer of the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Now in its eighth year, California Restaurant Month drives business for local restaurants and entices out-of-state travelers to visit California. From the coastal beach towns of Southern California to the high Sierras, dozens of destinations are hosting restaurant weeks and special events, shining a light on the many talented people and places in each region.
“California Restaurant Month is a celebration of California’s unparalleled culinary bounty,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. “Fueled by the state’s vast supply of fresh ingredients, talented chefs and diverse cultural influences, California cuisine is recognized around the globe for being both innovative and delicious.”
Get Hooked is a collaboration between local and regional organizations including the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCCVB), Real Good Fish, Ocean2Table, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Positively Groundfish and the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust (MBFT).
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For more information and a list of participating restaurants, visit: www.gethookedmontereybay.com
For more information about California Restaurant Month, visit: www.DineinCA.com.
About the Get Hooked Steering Committee:
Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to advance the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of Monterey Bay Fisheries. www.montereybayfisheries.org.
Real Good Fish is a community supported fishery (CSF), operating out of Moss Landing, that shares the bounty of our local ocean by selling a diversity of sustainably caught species. www.realgoodfish.com
Ocean2Table is a Santa Cruz-based CSF that provides fish landed in port within the past 24 hours. Fish are selected based on seasonal availability and the health of the fishery. www.getocean2table.com
The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s mission is to inspire conservation of the ocean. Everything they do works in concert to protect the future of our blue planet. www.montereybayaquarium.org
Positively Groundfish is a non-profit trade association whose mission is to tell the story of sustainable West Coast groundfish and to support the long-term economic success of our local fishing communities. www.positivelygroundfish.org
The Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) is the Destination Marketing Organization for Monterey County whose purpose is to grow the tourism economy to the benefit of local businesses and residents and through their ‘Sustainable Moments’ initiative encourage travelers to be environmentally and socially responsible during their visit. www.seemonterey.com
Visit California is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs—in partnership with the state’s travel industry—that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. www.visitcalifornia.com