Shrimp & Salmon Comparative Tastings - June 28th

"To Be Wild or Not To Be Wild"? Wednesday, June 28, 2006


The Education Working Group of Les Dames d'Escoffier, Chicago

invites you a Class with comparative tasting's of Shrimp and Salmon

Presented by Dirk Fucik of Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop

Planned with Dame Camille Stagg, Chair, Education Working Group

Summer is the best season for Salmon, king of fishes. Learn about wild
and farmed. Shrimp is a prized shellfish, but there is a range in quality.
Taste differences.

Seafood expert Dirk Fucik of Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop on Clybourn, will
teach a class, field questions and conduct comparative tasting's of wild and
farmed salmon and of two farmed shrimp.

Dirk has recently appeared on ABC (channel 7), NBC (channel 2) and WGN
Radio; his shop has been featured in many local publications. He will be
assisted by his wife, Terry, whose creations are sold at the shop.

6 p.m. Reception--Dirk will offer a comparative tasting of two farmed
shrimp: Black Tiger from Thailand (supermarket shrimp) and the more
flavorful Pacific shrimp from Ecuador. Seafood-friendly wines from House of
Glunz.

6:30-7:30 p.m. class--Dirk's topics: description of different varieties of
salmon available in summer (wild sockeye and King, Farmed Atlantic and
King); what to look for in fresh whole salmon and fillets (display raw
products); health benefits; environmental issues (mercury, color added,
etc.); best cooking methods for each species (grilling, pan-seared, steamed and cedar-plank-smoked); sashimi and sushi salmon.

Tasting of farmed and wild salmon include: grilled with a special marinade; pan-seared with olive oil and seasoned sea salt; plank-smoked with
marinade. Q &A. Bring seafood questions and ask the expert.

Wednesday, June 28
Kendall College 6 p.m. Reception; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
900 N. North Branch St., Chicago. 60622
(Just north of W. Chicago Ave.& Halsted St.; entrance on east side, off parking lot).
Guests welcome.
Register early; limited seating (45).

RSVP to:
Maria Battaglia
312.671.3341
[email protected]
Please send checks for $35/per, payable to Les Dames d'Escoffier,
to Maria Battaglia,
195 N. Harbor Dr., Suite # 306, Chicago, IL 60601

Wow -- great -- definitely have to do this. One detects differences in taste when dining in different venues and countries, but it's hard sometimes to tell what is attributable to differences in preparation, vs. differences in the base ingredient. Thanks. Hope to see you there.

Cynthia,

I just made my reservation. So I will be seeing you there!

Regards,

Cathy,

This sounds very interesting. I made a reservation for 4. See you there.

Jesper