Does Frozen Seafood Have an Unfair Rep? - Highlights from the Let's Talk About Food Fest

          Last weekend I stopped by the Let's Talk About Food Festival, a free three day educational event put on by Whole Foods and the Boston Globe. There were tons of booths set up with samples and information around all kinds of issues relating to food (sustainability, nutrition, cooking, kids' school lunches, etc.). I was most interested in the chef talks and cooking demos, and made it a point to see the Something Fishy demo by Chef and sustainable seafood advocate Barton Seaver, seafood distributor Michael Dimin of Sea2Table, and Chef Jeremy Sewall of several Boston restaurants including Lineage, Row 34, and Island Creek Oyster. 

           The presentation included a cooking demonstration for an easy salmon recipe, and a talk about sustainable seafood with a particular focus on frozen vs. fresh. I personally have always purchased only fresh seafood, but after hearing this talk I may reconsider. There are benefits to frozen seafood including:

1. When fish is frozen at sea, it is often frozen as soon as it's caught and vacuum sealed. In these cases, it may be more fresh than the never frozen fish at the seafood counter which may be several days old after transportation and depending on how quickly they sell. 

2. Frozen seafood is generally cheaper, since seasonality and air transportation are not a factor. 

         Like fresh seafood, it is important to know your distributors, where and how the fish was caught, and how it was processed. You can find this information available in many of the resources I've mentioned in prior posts, or by shopping at places like Whole Foods or a trusted local seafood market.

Now for the recipe:

1. Rub a piece of salmon with olive oil, rosemary, minced shallot, and lemon zest
2. Slow roast in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the fish is just opaque in the center
3. Finish with roasted wild mushroom and corn, and fresh lemon squeezed on top

Up next week: my experience at Legal Harborside, and Legal Seafood's commitment to sustainability

What do you want to read about seafood and or sustainability? Leave your suggestions in the comments section!