Seafood Throwdown

Seafood Throwdown is a fun, educational and community driven activity that promotes the ecological and economic benefit of locally caught seafood.

Seafood Throwdown was the brainchild of the partnership between the Cape Ann Farmers Market and the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance (NAMA) as a way of promoting locally caught seafood and gauging the community’s interest in Community Supported Fisheries (CSF). Tailored after the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, a CSF brings freshly caught local seafood to our kitchens while providing fishermen with a better price on less catch. CSF members give the fishermen financial support in advance, and in turn the fishermen provide a weekly share of locally caught seafood to their shareholders.

During the 2008 Cape Ann Farmers Market season in Gloucester, two local chefs competed each week. Each participant was instructed to only bring their favorite cooking vessels/utensils, presentation plates and three of their favorite ingredients. Once there, they found out about the secret seafood ingredient, given $25 and 15 minutes to use the farmers market as their pantry, and then an hour to prepare, cook and plate their dish for three judges. Participants also made enough to offer a small tastings to select group of market customers who received tickets during the course of the event.

For videos, photos and to learn more about the 2008 Seafood Throwdowns by visiting NAMA in the Press and NAMA Press Releases.
Seafood Throwdown rules & information:

• Each person can bring their favorite cooking utensils/tools/gadgets/presentation platter(s) and three favorite ingredients (all dirty dishes will go back with you as we can't do dishes on site). You can bring a sous chef/assistant.
• Have a good time cooking!

Chefs are provided with:

• Enough of the secret ingredient (approx. 4 lbs) to feed 2 judges, the emcee(s) and still have enough to go around for some public tastings
• Salt and pepper, garlic, lemons/limes and olive oil
• Aluminum foil, paper towels and serving dishes/forks/knives/spoons for tastings
• A gas grill and a three-burner propane-powered stove top
• $25 stipend for shopping at the Farmers Market only
• 15 minutes of shopping
• One hour for preparation, cooking and plating

To schedule a Seafood Throwdown, please contact us at 207-284-5374.