On March 1st, Locals Seafood will host their sixth annual Winter Seafood Jubilee at their oyster bar in downtown Raleigh. The 2020 Jubilee will feature a fish fry and oyster roast on the patio at Transfer Co. Food Hall. Special guests at the Jubilee will include oyster growers, fishermen and women, policy makers and industry stakeholders.
“Our annual Jubilee is a celebration of this state’s coastal marine resources. This event gives consumers the opportunity to enjoy eating seafood while meeting the folks who harvest, produce, and advocate for our seafood resources,” says Ryan Speckman, co-founder of Locals Seafood and Locals Oyster Bar. This educational event is free and open to the public. “We want to encourage seafood customers to engage with folks from the seafood industry. It’s all about knowing where your food comes from,” continues Speckman. Attendees will be able to buy fish fry baskets and steamed oysters at the event, in addition to the other dining options Transfer Co. Food Hall offers.
On March 2 the celebration of seafood continues with the day-long NC Catch Summit. The Summit is an annual gathering of folks from every facet of the industry to discuss the state of North Carolina seafood and the industry as a whole. This year will be the first time the Summit is not held on the coast. “We chose to bring the Summit inland to engage a new audience, mostly consumers, in the conversation,” says Mark Hooper, NC Catch Board Chair. Attendees can expect presentations and panel discussions from 9:30am to 4pm inside the Transfer Co. Ballroom. A break for lunch will allow attendees to enjoy food from the many vendors inside the food hall. The Summit is free and open to the public; RSVPs are encouraged.
Topics covered at the Summit will include trends in fisheries management, product mis-labeling, the growing shellfish farming industry, the role of media in promoting the industry, branding and marketing seafood, and a panel discussing consumer demand. Speakers include NC DEQ Chief Deputy Secretary John Nicholson, NC DMF Director Steve Murphey, Director of NCFA Glenn Skinner, Rossie Izzlar of UNC-TV, and local food-scene favorites Chef Ricky Moore (Saltbox Seafood Joint) and Chef Eric Montagne (Locals Oyster Bar).
There are no tickets required for the Jubilee, but guests are encouraged to RSVP on Facebook. Free tickets for the NC Catch Summit on Monday can be reserved on EventBrite.
