Top chef named Scots seafood ambassador
14th July 2022
Leading chef and restaurateur Monica Galetti has been named as an ambassador for Scottish seafood – the first appointment of its kind in the industry, reports Paul Scott.
The celebrated chef will ‘lead the charge to encourage buyers, restaurant owners and chefs across the UK to purchase and serve more seafood from Scotland by promoting its quality, flavour and versatility’.
Seafood from Scotland, the industry body behind the appointment, has also created a new information hub for the ‘Sea the People’ campaign, which includes professionally filmed clips of Monica Galetti’s experiences in Scotland, a video interview on why she got involved in the project, and specially created seafood recipes for chefs.
“Sea the People is vital because, at its heart, the Scottish seafood industry depends on these men and women to maintain and grow its premium status. I am in awe of their knowledge and skills, and their commitment to provenance at every stage of the supply chain,” said Monica Galetti.
In preparation for her new role, she spent time travelling around Scotland’s coastal communities, meeting some of the people involved in the industry, including fishermen, processors, oyster growers, smokers and salmon farmers.
“I would love to see UK restaurants and retailers stocking more Scottish fish and shellfish
– fished or farmed,” she said. “At present around 80% is exported. We have a collective responsibility to introduce different species to consumers, in a way that encourages them to look beyond the familiar.”
Adam Wing, head of trade marketing for the UK, Americas and new markets, said that Monica Galetti was the ‘perfect person’ to champion the efforts of the Scottish seafood industry.
“She genuinely believes in the quality of Scottish seafood and the commitment of the people who produce it. She has an ability to find a connection with everyone she meets, and really listens to their stories. She wants to keep learning and it shows,” he said.
“As a chef and restaurateur, Monica is in an ideal position to encourage young chefs and buyers to take a closer look at what we can offer, and to help them appreciate the effort that goes into producing such high-quality fish and shellfish.”
“For me, Scottish seafood is synonymous with the best quality in the world, and we definitely need to be shouting about it,” said Monica Galetti.
The Sea the People information hub can be viewed here.
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.30 here.
