Sustainbility
Many chefs talk about it; some people read about it; others don’t care to know about it. My staff and I live by it. Many restaurants use this simple yet utterly important word to entice guests to come into restaurants.
We at the Seafood Shack believe that simply practicing sustainable practices on a day-to-day basis makes all the difference in the world. Literally.
Sustainability is not just some cheap gimmick; it is a lifestyle to ensure a fruitful future for our families to come. Knowing where your products come from and how they are harvested are truly the keys to true sustainability.
We live in a culture where everything has to be fast and easy. As my mother use to say, “Like is quick, but it ain’t easy.” Neither is sustainability. But just like in life, if you truly want to make a difference, you must take to the time and effort to ensure a productive future.
I must admit in my younger days of cooking, fish after fist, I have thrown away parts of fist that I thought were useless. After becoming more knowledgeable and in touch with my products, I have found creative ways around this unnecessary action. Believe it or not, but everything can be used. Eyeballs, spines collars, of course, to each its own. In this case, collars were my first choice.
One could say it would be comparable to the leg of a chicken – not really. The truth is the more the muscle moves, the more flavor it creates. This being said, this was a way to create a beautiful dish without throwing it into the garbage.
Ultimately as chefs, our goal is to turn something great. Not everyone has to be a chef to make difference or even cook with sustainable products. As I said before, this is a life style.
Start by getting to know the farmers, fisherman and anyone you buy your food from. Are they taking short cuts? Do they care about what kind of product you are receiving? These are the questions you should ask yourself. Just because it’s cheap should not dictate who you buy from.
In all reality the outcome of sourcing non-sustainable products has a great outcome. It may not affect you at this given time, but it will have an effect on the future we all live in. I have three children, and I know my sole goal in life is to lead by example to ensure that they understand that I have done everything in my power to ensure that they have a sustainable future.
Chef or no chef, every person on this Earth makes a difference. Focus more on buying only what you really need and not so much on what you really want. Use all your scraps rather than throwing them away and ask yourself this question, “Are you willing to make that difference or is quick and easy, simply easier?”
As seen in the Anna Maria Island Sun