A new learning adventure began at the Tennessee Aquarium last September when celebrity chef Alton Brown stepped onto a stage at the IMAX Theater. The Food Network star helped launch the Aquarium’s Serve & Protect program with a measured amount of marine science and a dash of culinary humor. He reminded everyone that bringing the sustainable seafood conversation to inland residents is at the heart of the Aquarium’s mission.
“One of the important things the Tennessee Aquarium has always been so good about is reminding people that the seas start inland,” Chef Brown told the audience. “Rivers and seas are part of the same system, and when we think seafood, we tend to think of big, blue water. But rivers, ponds and tributaries are all parts of that system.”
Chef Brown will return to Chattanooga on September 13 to kick off another weekend of inspiring people to buy American seafood. “The goal of Serve & Protect is really simple,” said Brown. “Ask for seafood caught or produced in the U.S. because our fisheries and fish farms are well-managed and the product is probably better for you nutritionally.” Brown will deliver two cooking demonstrations at the IMAX Theater this year.
The first will be a midday affair which begins at 11 a.m. Attendees will join chefs from local caterers for cooking demonstrations and tastings. Gourmet boxed lunches will be provided for guests to enjoy in the theater while Chef Brown gets cooking on stage. After an hour-long program, everyone will be invited to enjoy a dessert buffet in the IMAX Great Hall. Chef Brown will mingle with guests for about an hour to wrap up the lunch event. Individual tickets for this event are online at www.tnaqua.org.
The Aquarium’s Second Annual Serve & Protect event will begin at 5:30 p.m. as guests gather with friends in the IMAX Great Hall for cocktails and appetizers provided by Greenlife Grocery. Armed with new recipes developed for the Aquarium’s 2012 program, Chef Brown will serve up another entertaining and informative presentation for the audience. Then attendees will enjoy an elegant seafood dinner, prepared by chefs from some of Chattanooga’s finest restaurants, within the Aquarium galleries. The chefs and Aquarium experts will provide a casual conversation about the meal and the highlighted species of this year’s program. Alton Brown will mingle with guests at a dessert reception following the meal. Individual tickets for the evening event are also available online.
Everyone is encouraged to explore the city’s restaurant scene during the Chattanooga Dine Around on September 14t and 15. Chef Brown was impressed by what he experienced while touring partner establishments during last year’s Dine Around. “For a mid-sized city, Chattanooga has a surprising number of fine restaurants,” Brown said. “It’s also nice that many are located in close proximity to downtown.” Diners will find special Serve & Protect menu items showcasing the culinary talents of some of the city’s most talented chefs.
Their creativity will be put to the test on Sept. 23 as the Chattanooga Market once again focuses attention on sustainable seafood and locally produced ingredients during the Cast Iron Cook-off. This popular event offers people the chance to see the local chefs shop the market for ingredients and prepare a meal within a specified time.
To learn more about how the Tennessee Aquarium has been working to provide sustainable seafood information to inland residents through the Serve & Protect program, visit www.tnaqua.org.
Source: Tennessee Aquarium