Off The Hook: Santa Monica Seafood Rocks Lobsters, Clams Up For National Seafood Month

Thank Cod for National Seafood Month! Edible Skinny is super excited to be checking out the 3rd Annual OFF THE HOOK Seafood Festival which returns to the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, October 14, 2017. Presented by Capital One, this year's festival benefits the Surfrider Foundation Los Angeles and is 100% Sustainable! Holy Shrimp!

The third annual seafood tasting event (not the new squid on the block...) features chefs from around the Westside showcasing their favorite underwater ingredients. Attendees will enjoy food and drink tastings from restaurants such as Herringbone, Tar & Roses, FIG, Sushi Roku and The Lobster, beer and wine gardens, live music, games, an oyster shucking competition and more, all while helping to raise funds and awareness for the Surfrider Foundation Los Angeles Chapter. 

Finally an event with some porpoise. "Off the Hook is a great way for us to spread the word about how to help preserve and protect our great oceans," said Surfrider Los Angeles Chapter Coordinator, Graham Hamilton. "In an effort to help build a more sustainable future, this year's event will be free of all single-use plastic containers using all recyclable cups, straws and disposable items. We hope that all who attend this event will not only enjoy great seafood, but learn about ways to reduce their single-use plastic footprint in their everyday lives and help build a more sustainable future for ocean ecosystems." 

This year's festival will honor those who have made an impact on the sustainable seafood movement including Greg Moreno; Owner The Albright, Pappy's Kitchen and Cast Iron Catering. Greg and Yunnie Kim Morena and their team have been trailblazers in sustainability and greening efforts and are recognized as the first sustainable business on the Pier being awarded the 2016 SQA Award. Whale obviously, the Albright, will be sponsoring this year's raw oyster bar and 2017 Oyster Shucking Competition, where professional and novice "shuckers" will compete on presentation, time and overall ability.

Chef and Restaurateur Andrew Kirschner of Tar & Roses and Chef Yousef Ghalaini from FIG at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows will be among the many restaurants participating along with The Lobster, BOA, Sushi Roku, Herringbone, Red O, Butchers Daughter, 1212 Santa Monica, The Albright, Enterprise Fish Co, Del Frisco's Grille, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Spinfish Poke House, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Pretty Little Bakers, and many more.

Tickets are $50.00 in advance for general admission, which include tastings, access to beer and wine garden, spirits tasting, live music, games and more and VIP tickets are $75.00 in advance and include early entry at 3 p.m. and access to the Capital One Cafe Sustainable Seafood VIP Lounge sponsored by Santa Monica Seafood, with curated cocktails from Kikori Whiskey and specialty seafood dishes from FIG, Tar & Roses, Red O and more. Not even squidding.

So if you're looking for something to check out head on over to the Santa Monica Pier next Saturday afternoon, because this event will be krilling it!