ANNAPOLIS (Jan. 23, 2008) - Enjoy delicious Maryland rockfish and join the celebration of Maryland's official state fish, the striped bass or rockfish! The Maryland Rockfish Celebration is taking place at more than 55 restaurants and retail markets throughout the state. Participants will be offering rockfish specials on this delectable fish during the celebration, which lasts through the end of February.
The Maryland Rockfish Celebration is sponsored by Maryland commercial fishermen, seafood processors and the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
"Winter is prime time for the delicious Chesapeake Bay rockfish," said Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson. "Our commercial fishermen catch this Bay bounty for us to enjoy at home and at restaurants. It is a tasty and healthy nutritional choice."
Southern Maryland establishments that are participating include:
Beach Cove
8416 Bayside Road
Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732
301-855-0025
Crabknocker's Seafood Market
40955 Merchants Lane
Leonardtown, MD 20650
301-475-7830
John’s Crabs and Seafood
2853 Chesapeake Beach Road
Dunkirk, MD 20754
301-855-6880
Captain John's Crab House
16215 Cobb Island Road
Newburg, MD 20664
301-259-2315
Kellam's Seafood
16616 Three Notch Road
Ridge, MD 20680
301-872-5627
As part of the Rockfish Celebration, the 1st Annual Junior Chefs Rockfish Cook-Off will be held during the 2008 East Coast Commercial Fisherman's and Aquaculture Trade Exposition. The top 10 chef finalists between the ages of 11 and 17 will compete in the cook-off on Sat., Jan. 26 in Ocean City, Md. The contest will consist of two age groups, 7 - 11 and 12 - 17. Five finalists will be selected from each age group to compete for cash prizes and plaques. First place will receive $200 and a plaque, second place will receive $100 and a plaque and third place will receive $50 and a plaque.
The cook-off is sponsored by the University of Delaware Sea Grant Program, the University of Maryland Sea Grant and Maryland Seafood Marketing. For a free brochure containing the winning recipes of the junior rockfish cooking contest, please visit http://www.marylandseafood.org/ .
Try this great recipe for "Rockfish Fillets Kinship"
2 pounds Maryland rockfish fillets
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup blanched almonds
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
salt, pepper, nutmeg to taste
1/2 cup dry white wine or water
Place fillets in a buttered plan, and season with salt and pepper. Chop or slice mushrooms thinly, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Chop or sliver blanched almonds. Make a mixture of the softened butter, mushrooms with lemon, almonds and parsley; season with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg. Add the white wine to pan. Spread butter mixture evenly and rather thickly over fillets. Bake in a 450F oven for 10 minutes per inch of thickness of fish. Makes 4 to 6 servings. Cooked rockfish contains only 103 calories and 2.5 grams of fat per 3-ounce serving.
For a free striped bass recipe brochure, visit http://www.marylandseafood.org/go/rock/ , or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Rockfish Recipe, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Seafood Marketing Program, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.
2 pounds Maryland rockfish fillets
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup blanched almonds
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
salt, pepper, nutmeg to taste
1/2 cup dry white wine or water
Place fillets in a buttered plan, and season with salt and pepper. Chop or slice mushrooms thinly, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Chop or sliver blanched almonds. Make a mixture of the softened butter, mushrooms with lemon, almonds and parsley; season with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg. Add the white wine to pan. Spread butter mixture evenly and rather thickly over fillets. Bake in a 450F oven for 10 minutes per inch of thickness of fish. Makes 4 to 6 servings. Cooked rockfish contains only 103 calories and 2.5 grams of fat per 3-ounce serving.
For a free striped bass recipe brochure, visit http://www.marylandseafood.org/go/rock/ , or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Rockfish Recipe, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Seafood Marketing Program, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.