Neighbor News
Community dinner at South Kingstown Elks Lodge will celebrate abundant yet underappreciated food from the sea
On October 25, Point Judith fishermen will serve up a variety of their local catch.
WAKEFIELD -- On October 25, the nonprofit Eating with the Ecosystem will host a community dinner at the South Kingstown Elks Lodge to draw attention to an array of delicious, nutritious, abundant – yet often overlooked – seafood caught by Rhode Island’s fishermen.
Eating with the Ecosystem’s mission is to promote a place-based approach to sustainable seafood by fostering an intimate connection between diners and the ecosystems off their shores. The group hosts dinners such as this one to stress the importance of diversifying seafood consumption in order to support biodiversity in the sea and diversity of opportunities for fishermen.
The October 25 event will be produced in collaboration with members of the Point Judith commercial fishing community. Fishermen will donate their catch, clean and cook the fish, and chat with guests at the dinner. Guests will have the opportunity to learn where their seafood comes from and how consumers can help fishermen adapt seafood markets to changing environmental conditions.
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The concept for the event was originated by Rodman Sykes, who has fished commercially out of Point Judith for 40 years on his F/V Virginia Marise. Sykes is a member of the board of directors of Eating with the Ecosystem. His motivation in spearheading this dinner event was to introduce consumers to unfamiliar yet abundant species while raising funds for the nonprofit.
“Many of the fish that we catch are underrepresented in the marketplace,” Sykes explained. “As fishermen, we are always looking for opportunities to sell all the fish that we catch. Educating the public to appreciate these fish will help the industry and the resource.”
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The fishermen plan to serve a number of species, including some of the following: dogfish, sea robins, skate, scup, bluefish, whiting, butterfish, squid, and mussels. The final menu will depend on what is swimming that day.
The event will take place from 5:00-8:00 PM.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Eating with the Ecosystem, and ticket costs are tax-deductible. Tickets may be purchased for $15 at the door or for $17 at www.eatingwiththeecosystem/elkslodge. There will be a cash bar.
The South Kingstown Elks Lodge is located at 60 Belmont Ave, South Kingstown, RI 02879.
