“We need to use more of Seafood Scotland especially within our industry”

Seafood Scotland held an evening at Monica Galetti’s Mere restaurant in Mayfair to celebrate the importance of Scottish seafood.

Attendees from the industry, including media and hospitality professionals, were treated to a special four course menu cooked by the former MasterChef judge, featuring a varied range of Scotland’s best seafood.

The first course of the evening was a pumpkin mousse with smoked haddock, served with sea buckthorn and brioche, followed by hand dived scallops served with cauliflower, capers and miso sauce.

Guests were also treated to pan roasted monkfish cooked on charcoals with black curry, served with mussels and bergamot sauce, and followed by Mere’s renowned Hokey Pokey chocolate dessert, finished with 100% koko samoa.

Speaking exclusively to The Staff Canteen about the evening, Monica said: “It’s been a brilliant night and it’s great to see so many colleagues in the industry with us tonight to shine a light on this great produce that we get from Scotland.”

It comes after Seafood from Scotland announced earlier this year that Monica had been appointed as an ambassador for the company, leading the charge to encourage buyers, restaurant owners and chefs across the UK to purchase and serve more seafood from Scotland.

Commenting on her ambassadorship with Seafood Scotland, Monica explained: “I took this role on to highlight that we need to use more of Seafood Scotland especially within our industry, and to get more young chefs excited about the produce.”

In preparation for this flagship role, Monica spent time travelling around Scotland’s coastal communities, meeting the people who devote their lives to their craft, and forming professional relationships with fishers and processors, entrepreneurs running harbour cafes, oyster growers, fish smokers and salmon farmers.

Commenting on the evening, Adam Wing, Head of Trade Marketing (UK, Americas and Emerging Markets) for Seafood Scotland said: “The Scottish seafood showcase dinner, expertly hosted and prepared by Chef Monica Galetti and her team at Mere Restaurant, brought together leading chefs, restaurant owners and the UK Bocuse d’Or team to talk about the premium quality and flavour of Scottish seafood and why it should have a higher profile on restaurant menus across the UK. We would encourage everyone in the industry to think Scottish when ordering fish and shellfish.”