Halibut Sinigang (Filipino Tamarind Soup)

Halibut Sinigang (Filipino Tamarind Soup)

Halibut Sinigang (Filipino Tamarind Soup)

Sinigang, a sour and savory Filipino Tamarind Soup can be made with a variety of ingredients from fish to meat, seafood, or poultry. It always includes tamarind for that signature sour flavor, various local vegetables, and often contains chili peppers.

We’re thrilled that Los Angeles Harbor College’s Culinary Arts program is participating in the upcoming Sustainable Seafood Expo again. This year they are serving samples of this lovely Sustainable Halibut Sinigang.

The Sustainable Seafood Expo will be held on Sunday, October 1st. It is the culmination of a year-round promotion of the sustainability movement by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.

The Expo provides great opportunities to sample new seafood options and see professional chefs turn sustainable seafood into fabulous dishes. Marine experts will be on hand to explain fisheries, habitats, and species management. Cooking demonstrations and panel discussions run throughout the event.

Halibut caught by hook-and-line off the California coast is a sustainable choice, however halibut caught off the U.S. Atlantic coast is to be avoided because the stock is depleted. When it comes to sustainability, the species matters, but it is equally important to know how and where the fish was caught.

Since 2006, Los Angeles Harbor College’s Culinary Arts program has offered highly comprehensive classroom and practical instruction delivered by experienced industry professionals. Their full-production model is unique among other culinary programs because it provides students with the opportunity to develop their skills in a real-time environment. Once completing the program, students are prepared to meet the challenges of their new culinary careers.

Los Angeles Harbor College Halibut Sinigang Recipe

Continue reading “Halibut Sinigang (Filipino Tamarind Soup)”

Ahi Poke and Sustainable Seafood

Ahi Poke and Seared Ahi

Hawaiian Ahi Poke and Seared Ahi

As food photographer for the upcoming 4th Annual Sustainable Seafood Expo, I had the opportunity to meet Shane Yoshimoto of Ali’i Fish Company and photograph (and taste!) his fabulous Hawaiian ahi dishes.

We are so excited for the upcoming grand-opening of Ali’i Fish in downtown Los Angeles where always-fresh Hawaiian seafood is expertly prepared to let the pristine nature of the fish shine through.

Quality, taste, sustainability, and authenticity are all hallmarks of Ali’i seafood. Raw fish has the potential to cause foodborne illness, so the sourcing, handling, and processing are of utmost importance to them.

Recently, the classic Hawaiian raw fish dish “poke” has exploded in popularity here on the mainland. Unfortunately, much of the raw tuna is imported and many foreign fishing fleets are not held to the same standards as U.S. fleets. To make a more healthful choice and to support sustainability, be sure to check the source of the tuna you choose to eat.

Shane says, “Ali’i Fish Company was founded with the idea of serving high quality, authentic poke and seafood dishes. Many of our ingredients are flown directly from Hawaii and our fish is always fresh and never frozen or treated with carbon monoxide gas.  We believe in sourcing from sustainable fisheries such as Hawaii and supporting US product when made available.  With over 40 years of combined seafood experience in Hawaii, not one aspect of our process goes unnoticed.”

Their Sesame Onion Ahi Poke will be served at the Sustainable Seafood Expo on October 1st. I’m very grateful to Shane for sharing his superb recipe here on Taste With The Eyes.

Sustainable Seafood

According to Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch yellowfin tuna caught in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) with handlines is a “Best Choice.” Yellowfin stocks are depleted everywhere except in the WCPO. Handlines have very low bycatch, and no species of concern are caught by this fishery.

Yellowfin and bigeye tuna caught in Hawaii’s Eastern Central Pacific Ocean (ECPO) with deep-set longlines is a “Good Alternative.” Hawaiian fleets have lower bycatch than international longline fisheries because of tougher U.S. regulations.

Ali’i Fish Co. Ahi Poke Recipe

Continue reading “Ahi Poke and Sustainable Seafood”

Sustainable Seafood Expo 2017

Sustainable Seafood Expo 2017
Baja Kanpachi
Sustainable Seafood Expo
October 1, 2017

It is my pleasure, once again, to be working with the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium to promote sustainable seafood with the ultimate goal of sustaining wild, diverse and healthy ocean ecosystems that will exist long into the future. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium strives to educate local consumers, chefs and restaurateurs on this critical topic.

As Southern California’s only major sustainable seafood event, the Expo allows us to spread the word about how and why the seafood we choose should be sustainably caught and farmed, including how to make the best selections when dining out or cooking at home.

Sustainable Seafood Expo 2017
Ocean-Raised Striped Bass

This year the Expo will be held at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium near the Port of Los Angeles. Throughout the Aquarium, you’ll be able to explore informational booths, enjoy scrumptious seafood samples, learn from top chefs during cooking demonstrations, watch educational movies in the auditorium and sip an ice-cold beverage or two.

Actor Adrian Grenier of “Entourage” fame and co-founder of the Lonely Whale Foundation will be back as our Keynote Speaker. Don’t miss the opportunity to dine with him during the Chef’s Table Dinner, which will be hosted at the historic landmark Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse, a 1932 Mediterranean-style structure that is the last of the bathhouses built in Southern California. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind dining experience that features locally sourced seafood, seasonal fare, fine wine, great company and an exceptional ocean view.

The Expo provides great opportunities to sample new seafood options and see professional chefs turn sustainable seafood into dishes that you and your family can prepare at home. Experts are on hand to explain fisheries, habitats, species management, and a host of other factors that affect each species.

More than a dozen non-profit and educational exhibitors will share information about their work to protect the ocean, its marine life and the environment. Our speaker panel is made up of top researchers and environmentalists who will discuss pressing ocean-related issues. We’ll also screen short films throughout the event on a range of relevant seafood and ocean health topics.

The Sustainable Seafood Expo is the culmination of a year-round promotion of the sustainability movement and our efforts to help people make savvy seafood choices.

We hope you’ll join us on Sunday, October 1st to learn more about choosing the right fish for your dish!

Sustainable Seafood Expo Information

Continue reading “Sustainable Seafood Expo 2017”

Sustainable Seafood Expo & Chef’s Table Dinner at CRAFTED

Last weekend I wrote about our fabulous holiday party held at Brouwerij West in Warehouse No. 9 at the Port of Los Angeles.  Due to the overwhelming local response and interest in the new brewery and Crafted, I decided to share another event that I attended at Crafted a little while back. Crafted is right next door to Brouwerij West, located  in Warehouse No. 10. The event was the 2nd Annual Sustainable Seafood Expo and Chef’s Table Dinner, hosted by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and Friends.

Mermaid Linden

The Expo was designed to help consumers choose the right fish for their dish – one that’s healthy and good for the environment as well. Choosing the right fish can have a positive impact on the marine environment and the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium leads the way in educating local consumers, chefs, and restaurateurs on this topic.

Chefs, Fishermen, Local Experts, and A Real Mermaid were on hand to explain fisheries, habitats, and species management to promote and sustain wild, diverse, and healthy ocean ecosystems that will last long into the future. Ongoing seafood sampling and educational opportunities were available at booths throughout the Expo. The dinner was a stunning al fresco farm-to-table dining experience, featuring locally sourced seafood and seasonal fare prepared by Chef Paul Buchanan of Primal Alchemy.

BROUWERIJ WEST is a SAN PEDRO BREWERY & TASTING ROOM  – Brewing Belgian-inspired craft beers in a restored massive WWII- era Warehouse No. 9 at the Port of Los Angeles.

CRAFTED AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES  is a large-scale permanent handmade artisan marketplace. The classically restored Warehouse No. 10 is home to more than 100 individual artists, crafters and food makers, each presenting their unique handcrafted goods in a vibrant patchwork of shop spaces.

Sustainable Seafood Expo

Continue reading “Sustainable Seafood Expo & Chef’s Table Dinner at CRAFTED”