This event involved a collaboration between the SIC Climate Week calendar of events and the relaunch of Shetland Food and Drink's Seafood Provenance Scheme, funded through a Regional Food Fund grant awarded to Shetland Fishermen.
The aim of the Seafood Provenance Scheme is to celebrate Shetland’s world-class seafood, to help local people learn more about the fish in our waters and encourage everyone to eat a wider variety of the astounding cornucopia of seafood we have right here on our doorsteps.
What better way to introduce people to seafood than to serve up a hearty seafood chowder with local bread, monkfish tails with browned herb butter, Shetland honey garlic salmon, Shetland scallops and fresh mussels from Basta voe.
The original plan was to serve seafood from the Taste of Shetland trailer located outside the Town Hall, but the climate had other plans.
That day saw the first proper gale of the winter season, with gusts of up to 67 miles per hour, so we battened down the hatches and opted for Plan B: to cook in the Town Hall kitchen.
Despite the inclement weather, over 150 people visited the Town Hall to taste Shetland seafood and learn about how Shetland's marine industries are doing their part to help tackle the issues surrounding climate change.
The salmon was donated by Taste of Shetland members Scottish Sea Farms and Cooke Aquaculture, while QA Fish donated monkfish tails, and Shetland Select donated fresh mussels.
The Taste of Shetland team whipped up approximately twenty litres of seafood chowder in the Town Hall kitchen, made with as much local produce as could be sourced, including potatoes from Bressay, Shetland Salt and Shetland Farm Dairies butter and cream. They also served over 200 portions of salmon, monkfish, scallops and mussels to a steady stream of over 150 visitors.
Freshly roasted coffee was generously provided by Blyde Welcome throughout the afternoon.
A number of guests, visitors for Shetland's Wool Week, expressed how much they enjoyed tasting scallops for the first time.
Whether you're a local or a visitor, whether you want Shetland's top chefs to prepare it for you or to cook it yourself, whether you you want to buy the freshest fish here in Shetland or from further afield - we want you to be able to really enjoy all the seafood delights Shetland has to offer.
Have a look at our Seafood Champions Page to find out where in Shetland you can find the finest quality Shetland seafood.
