A Meal for all Seasons: Seafood Sets the Tone on the Grill or in the Kitchen
Most people consider Labor Day the end of summer and while that may be technically true, there are many grilling days still ahead and fantastic seafood dishes available throughout the year.
Differences in seafood quality, ease, and taste make certain kinds and brands optimal for your specific event. However, below are a few universal truths that explain why seafood is ideally suited for your post-Labor Day grilling needs and beyond.
Freshly frozen. When determining whether to select fresh or frozen seafood for the grill, there are several attributes to consider, starting with which one is fresher. Fresh seafood must be caught, shipped to shore, processed, packaged, and delivered often to wholesalers first, then retailers. This can mean it sits for hours or days before it is available for purchase. In contrast, quality frozen seafood is caught and flash-frozen to preserve its fresh natural flavors. So, unless your supplier has seafood brought in at least daily, good quality frozen seafood is often the better option.
Consistent consistency. Here, again, the scales are tipped in favor of limitless frozen seafood options on the grill – shrimp, branzino, octopus, salmon. And, a rising star is the shrimp burger which is fast gaining traction with grill masters nationwide!
A matter of time. Frozen seafood is packaged to be relatively the same size, and many, like Harvest of the Sea branzino, come pre-portioned. This uniformity makes it easier to time cooking and mealtimes. And isn’t keeping work to a less stressful minimum and spending more time with your guests the whole point of entertaining?
Give the cook a break. Because seafood is so versatile yet easy to prepare, less experienced chefs can successfully fill in and produce a delicious array of options while giving the usual grill master(s) and chefs the holiday off. These easy recipes should help.
Spaced out and fast-paced. If you are grilling, real estate on a grill is at a premium, especially for larger gatherings. Larger fare, such as steaks, burgers, and ribs, means fewer items cooking slower, which equates to more grill time and hungrier guests. In contrast, smaller, fast-cooking seafood can be plated and piled high quickly, having guests happily munching in no time.
A perfect fit. Few things are more important to setting the tone for sending summer off with a splash than the right cuisine. Seafood’s ability to revel in diverse sauces, recipes, and party themes makes it the perfect choice for your summer send-off. And for hosts too busy to create their own dishes, Harvest of the Sea offers offer several delicious value-added options, such as crunchy wrapped and tempura shrimp that guests will believe you spent hours preparing.
Tipping the scales. While we’ve arrived at the official end of summer, it doesn’t mean the days of good weather when people’s tastes lean toward lighter, healthier eating are over. Packed with protein, vitamins, and essential minerals while weighing in low on the calorie scale, seafood will leave guests satisfied instead of sleepy.
Mind over meat. Large slabs of red meat covering a grill are a turnoff for a growing number of people eating less meat or abstaining altogether. Seafood provides a tasty, filling option that will satisfy all of your guests throughout every season whether on the grill or in the kitchen.