Halloween is over a month away, but October is just around the corner, so if you are like me, that's enough just cause to start talking scary things. Creatures that are spawned from the depths of dark minds like Stephen King can keep you up at night, but truly, nothing is more frightening than real "monsters", and what's taking place in the Pacific Ocean off of our West Coast right now could warrant it's own feature film.
They call it the blob. It's an ever-changing surface ridge that is comprised of unusually warm water resulting from a rare weather pattern that occurred two years ago. It spreads 1,000 miles in each direction and runs about 300 feet deep. The blob negatively affects the ocean's natural water circulation by not allowing nutrient rich colder water to reach the surface and, correspondingly, limits the amount of much needed oxygen available. This changes the composition of the water and retards the growth and proliferation of the keystone food chain link, phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is a necessary microscopic food source that supports many vital ocean species. Without phytoplankton the entire food web is threatened.
The blob is striking real fear into marine biologists, fishermen, and oyster farmers alike. It is thought to be a contributing factor to the devastating drought occurring in California and the cause of the damaging algal blooms that have shut down many West Coast oyster farms this summer. It is believed that the blob is here to stay and that increasing water temperatures are an immediate threat to hundreds of species in both traditionally warm and cold water regions. The blob of the movies was a slow stalker, an immutable force that slowly swallowed whole anything and anyone that got near it. The real blob is much more subtle, but if it continues to hang around, it could prove to be a more significant problem.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Try Them Raw
On my recent excursion to Japan, I came across some things that stuck with me. The grand scale of the Tsukiji market awed me, while the solitude and peacefulness of the temples and culture humbled me. The food, especially the beef and seafood, inspired me, so much so, that I wanted dearly to bring some items and ideas back with me, to implement them into our market.
One of the best things I ate while in Japan was raw shrimp. The sushi piece completely changed my mind about what shrimp could be. My American palate was accustomed to shrimp many ways, but even the character Bubba from the movie Forrest Gump left off raw preparation in his exhaustive account. I had to bring these flavors back with me, to share them with our market and our customers.
Though I was served live shrimp that were prepared in front of me in Japan, I don't think the majority of our at home chefs and dinner guests on this side of the Pacific are quite ready for the execution of the plate so to speak. So, I looked for the closest product I could find that would give everyone an opportunity to experience the exquisite flavor of great shrimp, without moving the needle on their gag reflexes. What I found was the New Caledonian Blue Prawn.
New Caledonian Shrimp are a rare blue shrimp that are native to Latin America, but grown by SOPAC off of the coast of New Caledonia. For those of you who are not familiar with the world of Oceania, the French island of New Caledonia is located between Australia and Tahiti. I understand that many of you will immediately turn your nose up to farmed shrimp, but these are not your typical farmed shrimp. New Caledonian Shrimp are grown without the use of antibiotics and pesticides in a preserved ocean environment. Production is very small, with a focus on sustainability and quality. The shrimp are not readily available in the U.S., and much of the production goes to Japan for the sashimi market. The French product has been awarded many accolades for its elevated flavor and quality.
We choose to offer New Caledonian Shrimp because their flavor is unparalleled. It is a frozen product, so it is easy to have on hand for our guests, and when eaten raw I feel as though it can transport one to that eye-opening, whimsical world that only great food can unlock. When enjoyed raw, they have a creamy mouthfeel without losing the integrity of their firm texture. It's a paradox of bite, I know, but somehow they are forgiving and substantial at the same time. The sweetness of their flavor is unlike any cooked shrimp, which is our reason for sourcing this product and insisting that you try it raw. These shrimp have a clean balance of sugar and brine and a simple twist of lime or sprinkle of salt can elevate them from a mere experience to cosmic event. We can't force you to step out of your shrimp comfort zone - that step you will have to take yourself. We can promise you though, if you do, an ethereal world awaits. One that will open the eyes of your palate, excite the emotions of your appetite, and change what you think of when you think of shrimp.
One of the best things I ate while in Japan was raw shrimp. The sushi piece completely changed my mind about what shrimp could be. My American palate was accustomed to shrimp many ways, but even the character Bubba from the movie Forrest Gump left off raw preparation in his exhaustive account. I had to bring these flavors back with me, to share them with our market and our customers.
Though I was served live shrimp that were prepared in front of me in Japan, I don't think the majority of our at home chefs and dinner guests on this side of the Pacific are quite ready for the execution of the plate so to speak. So, I looked for the closest product I could find that would give everyone an opportunity to experience the exquisite flavor of great shrimp, without moving the needle on their gag reflexes. What I found was the New Caledonian Blue Prawn.
New Caledonian Shrimp are a rare blue shrimp that are native to Latin America, but grown by SOPAC off of the coast of New Caledonia. For those of you who are not familiar with the world of Oceania, the French island of New Caledonia is located between Australia and Tahiti. I understand that many of you will immediately turn your nose up to farmed shrimp, but these are not your typical farmed shrimp. New Caledonian Shrimp are grown without the use of antibiotics and pesticides in a preserved ocean environment. Production is very small, with a focus on sustainability and quality. The shrimp are not readily available in the U.S., and much of the production goes to Japan for the sashimi market. The French product has been awarded many accolades for its elevated flavor and quality.
We choose to offer New Caledonian Shrimp because their flavor is unparalleled. It is a frozen product, so it is easy to have on hand for our guests, and when eaten raw I feel as though it can transport one to that eye-opening, whimsical world that only great food can unlock. When enjoyed raw, they have a creamy mouthfeel without losing the integrity of their firm texture. It's a paradox of bite, I know, but somehow they are forgiving and substantial at the same time. The sweetness of their flavor is unlike any cooked shrimp, which is our reason for sourcing this product and insisting that you try it raw. These shrimp have a clean balance of sugar and brine and a simple twist of lime or sprinkle of salt can elevate them from a mere experience to cosmic event. We can't force you to step out of your shrimp comfort zone - that step you will have to take yourself. We can promise you though, if you do, an ethereal world awaits. One that will open the eyes of your palate, excite the emotions of your appetite, and change what you think of when you think of shrimp.