June 26, 2017 โ The city is expanding its Gloucester Fresh seafood campaign with a membership program for local and regional restaurants that will supplement the direct pipeline of fresh, locally harvested species with ideas on how to prepare and promote them.
The Gloucester Fresh Restaurant Membership program will offer its members seasonal seafood promotions, as well as guidelines for seasonal seafood availability, a listing of under-utilized species for โcreative and cost-effective recipesโ and other benefits.
โBy utilizing fresh and local seafood, you are not only providing delicious and healthy food to consumers, but also supporting your community,โ said Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken. โWeโre excited to launch this first-of-its-kind restaurant membership program to showcase our heritage while providing the freshest seafood products.โ
The campaign already has attracted some of the most prominent restaurants in Gloucester, including The Gloucester House, the Azorean Restaurant and Bar, The Causeway Restaurant, Tonno Restaurant and Passports.
Organizers said most of the member restaurants already served seafood harvested locally and landed in Gloucester and they became members because they believe in the course the city has plotted to promote the areaโs fresh seafood, its restaurants and its seafood processors and suppliers.
โRight now, the market favors places that use local ingredients and products,โ said Lenny Linquata, owner of The Gloucester House. โThe key is to provide people with a means for enjoying the local experience. And there is no better way to do that than by sampling local foods and local cuisine.โ
Linquata said his restaurant buys its lobsters, fish and scallops directly off boats landing their catch in Gloucester, as well as purchasing its clams locally.