As an MSC Ambassador, Chef Gourdet will promote the important role that certified sustainable seafood plays in our cuisine. This includes providing a recipe for the Healthy Oceans Too Cookbook and leading a cooking demonstration jointly hosted by the MSC and the James Beard Foundation (JBF) in March.
“Seafood is one of my favorite ingredients because it’s such a healthy and versatile protein,” said Chef Gourdet. “When choosing your seafood, my main advice is to look for the MSC Blue Fish label, knowing that you are choosing seafood that is not only good for you but also for the ocean. It’s an honor to work with MSC to keep our oceans full of life. I look forward to demystifying seafood preparation and giving chefs the inspiration and confidence they need to enjoy sustainable seafood at home. “
Healthy Oceans Too Cookbook – Selecting Seafood That Is Good For People And The Planet
For more than 20 years, the MSC has been dealing with the problem of overfishing with its certification and labeling programs. Americans can find the MSC blue fish label on more than 2,000 items in grocery stores across the country – including the frozen and canned aisles, fresh fish crate, and in the dietary supplement and pet sections – indicating to consumers that the fish is all rolled into one Environmentally friendly way was caught.
The Healthy Oceans Too Cookbook is designed to encourage Americans to learn about the benefits of the MSC Blue Fish label while also preparing seafood that is suitable for dinner and the planet. The cookbook features recipes from celebrity chefs like Chef Gourdet and influencers who are passionate about sharing the joy of making healthy, sustainable seafood recipes at home. In addition to detailed descriptions of the seafood types featured, many recipes contain videos to further simplify preparation.
The February month for heart health provides a timely reason to publish the Healthy Oceans Cookbook. Seafood – rich in omega-3 fatty acids, iron, B and D vitamins, and protein – is critical to heart health, brain development, immune support, and strong bones2. Research also shows that a Pescatarian diet is about as climate-friendly as the average vegetarian diet3. According to the World Resources Institute4, wild fish has the least impact on the planet, just higher than wheat, corn, beans and rice in terms of greenhouse gas emissions per gram of protein.
“The Healthy Oceans Too Cookbook is a guide for novice and seasoned chefs looking to cook healthier at home while helping the planet health,” he said Eric Critchlow, US Program Director at MSC. “Working with chefs and influencers from across the country, we’ve put together a diverse recipe collection that offers a variety of recipes and tips to discover, whether it’s a familiar species like tuna or a lesser known species like squid every recipe contains features MSC-certified seafood that is healthy for the cooker, the ocean and the planet. “
Cooking with the cook Gregory Gourdet – Virtual event jointly hosted by the Marine Stewardship Council and the James Beard Foundation
To best demonstrate the ease of cooking healthy, sustainable seafood, the MSC has partnered with the James Beard Foundation (JBF) and JBF nominated Chef Gourdet to host a virtual cooking demonstration Thursday March 11th at the 6 p.m. ET. US MSC Ambassador Gourdet, owner of the restaurant Can in Portland, Ore.The author of the upcoming cookbook “Everyone’s Table” is known for his healthy interpretation of global flavors – often with sustainable seafood at the center of the plate.
During the free live virtual event, attendees will receive exclusive tips from Chef Gourdet who will demonstrate how to make two recipes, including his entry, Healthy Oceans Too Cookbook. The demonstration will also include guidance on choosing seafood that is good for you and the sea, as well as details on how the MSC is working to ensure that the wild-caught seafood we love today will be available for generations to come.
“We are proud to be working with the Marine Stewardship Council on this path to advance our mission of a more sustainable food system and society,” he said Izabela Wojcik, Director of House Programming at the James Beard Foundation. “We hope that through this initiative we will not only stand up for the cause but also educate people on how they can improve overall food policy. Eating sustainably from the sea is much easier than consumers think, and we hope the recipes from Chef Gourdet and the Healthy Oceans Too Cookbook will encourage people to choose more seafood options that are better for you. “
Home cooks can learn more and sign up for that March 11 Event on the JBF website.
ABOUT THE MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organization. Our vision is that the world’s oceans are full of life and that seafood supplies are assured for this and future generations. Our Blue Label and Certification program recognizes and rewards sustainable fishing practices and helps create a more sustainable seafood market. More than 370 fisheries in over 36 countries are certified according to the MSC standard. These fisheries have a combined annual seafood production of over eleven million tonnes, accounting for nearly 15% of the world’s sea catch. More than 38,000 seafood products worldwide bear the MSC label. For more information, visit www.msc.org or follow @MSCBlueFish on social media.
ABOUT THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION
The James Beard Foundation promotes Good Food For Good ™. For more than 30 years, the James Beard Foundation has emphasized the central role of food culture in our daily life. Through the variety of industry programs that train and empower leaders in our community, the Foundation has reaffirmed the power of food to drive behavior, culture, and political change. The organization is committed to giving chefs a voice and the tools they need to make the world more sustainable, fairer and more delicious for everyone. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the James Beard Foundation launched the Open for Good campaign to ensure that independent restaurants not only survive, but that the industry can be rebuilt stronger than before. For more information, subscribe to the Beard Bites digital newsletter and follow @beardfoundation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. The James Beard Foundation is a 501 © (3) national not-for-profit organization based in New York City.
1 Sundried
2 Seafood Partnership
3 Greenhouse gas emissions from meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK
4 World Resources Institute
SOURCE Marine Stewardship Council
related links
http://www.msc.org