There’s a significant reason that Bellingham SeaFeast is named just that, rather than SeaFest. The event, now in its second year, emphasizes the feast of the sea and strives to be much more than your typical food festival.
SeaFeast shines a spotlight on the highest quality, most delicious seafood available anywhere – and lucky for us, so much of it is found right here at home.
The annual event is chock full of activities not directly related to the act of eating – such as visiting a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, learning about and celebrating our maritime heritage, listening to FisherPoets, singing sea shanties and much, much more – but feasting is undeniably the big draw.
(Find a full list of goings-on here.)
SeaFeast Kicks Off with Friday’s SeaFeed at the Square
SeaFeed at the Square opens up the celebration at Depot Market Square with a banquet of world-class seafood including oysters, salmon, crab boil and more. It’s a new event this year; a re-working of last year’s SeaFeast Reception, which took place at the close of the festival.
We’re so fortunate to have internationally renowned producers right here in our beautiful corner of the world. Bornstein Seafoods, Taylor Shellfish Farms and Drayton Harbor Oyster Company are just three who will provide their delicious eats from the sea on Friday evening, while Crave Catering creates a crab boil to remember.
Draper Valley Farms is another local company taking part in SeaFeed at the Square, offering free-range chicken for those who don’t like or are allergic to seafood.
Don’t wait long to buy tickets, as this singular event is expected to sell out.
Saturday’s SeaFeast Festivities
Saturday’s full day of SeaFeast activities take place along the waterfront and Squalicum Harbor, with everything from dock walks and boat tours to a beer garden and live music.
Taste the Sea: A Sustainable Seafood Experience offers a chance to learn about and enjoy premium, sustainable seafood from several producers, such as Alaskan Leader and Penn Cove Shellfish. Haggen Market Street Catering and Ocean Beauty Seafoods will also serve up a variety of scrumptious samples at the Squalicum Boathouse.
Jay Bornstein, retired patriarch of Bornstein Seafoods, leads the charge for the ”Skill-of-the Grill” Salmon BBQ Grilling Championships, an event similar to one he hosted in the 1990s.
“There are barbecue contests all over the country with ribs and chicken and whatnot,” Bornstein says. “We decided to create our own contest right here, but for salmon.”
Celebrity judges will weigh in on the spectacular salmon options, including renowned barbecue expert and author Rick Browne, who has appeared on PBS, the “Today” Show, “Live With Regis and Kelly” and more.
Drew Gamino, executive chef at Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill, is also slated to judge. He looks forward to being involved and also sharing the imperative message inherent in SeaFeast.
“The more we can contribute to the education of the seafood industry – the job possibilities it creates and the people behind it – the better it will be to cultivate the sustainable future of our seafood industry for generations to come,” he says.
Anthony’s is pleased to be a part of SeaFeast this year and its work to help connect more people to the Bellingham waterfront.
A People’s Choice category has been added this year. Attendees can sample the salmon-grilled with $1 tickets and make their voices heard for which entry deserves the crown.
Have you ever wanted to put your amateur oyster shucking (and slurping) skills to the test? Pull a team together for the Oyster Shuck ‘n’ Slurp Contest. Ready…set…shuck!
If you’re practicing at home – upping your oyster tolerance, shall we say – be warned that last year’s winners shucked and slurped down an astounding 22 oysters in two minutes.
Drayton Harbor Oyster Company – whose co-owner Mark Seymour was on last year’s winning team – is a sponsor of this year’s contest.
(Read WhatcomTalk’s recent feature about Drayton Harbor Oyster Company.)
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