Spreading the word

Posted: September 3, 2010

Grand Isle, Louisiana—A group of nationally renowned chefs gathered here June 28 to lend their star power in support of Louisiana’s $2.4 billion seafood industry. Louisiana chef John Folse, Chicago’s Rick Tramonto, and Houston’s Charles Carroll, who are personal friends, took the initiative to invite Dean Fearing, Rick Moonen, Tom Colicchio, and Susur Lee, to join them on their “Chefs Ashore” project. Following a tour of the affected waters, the chefs reaffirmed their commitment to fishermen and seafood suppliers to serve Gulf seafood in their restaurants. “We have chefs here from across the country to support our fishermen and tell the world that Louisiana seafood is safe to eat, as delicious as ever, and that Louisiana is open for business,” said Folse, noting that “70 percent of the waters are open. However, there are rotating closures.” And he added, “We met with the people who are charged with the regulation of seafood—the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries—to ensure that it is, in fact, safe before we go out and entice the public to eat it.”
World-renowned performance artist Michael Israel created three paintings, which will be auctioned at a later date with proceeds benefiting the Friends of the Fishermen fund. For more info, contact the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board (www.LouisianaSeafood.com).
Meanwhile, other fund-raising efforts included “Dine Out for the Gulf Coast,” organized by Jimmy Galle of Gulfish, a company specializing in Gulf seafood, and a band of Washington, D.C. chefs serving dinners for the St. Bernard Project.