This just in: Discovery Place and Charlotte Area Science Network will present a special program called Science Café – Carolina Catch of the Day on June 9. Those who attend the program will learn about seafood from the North Carolina coast and try samples of seafood. For more details, see the press release below.

North Carolina Seafood Focus of Charlotte Science Café

Science Café – Carolina Catch of the Day explores the flavors, sources, health benefits and management of North Carolina’s local catch efforts Tuesday, June 9 from 5 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – At markets everywhere, consumers now are asking “Where is it from?” when making food choices.

To learn more about seafood from the North Carolina coast, join experts from North Carolina Sea Grant and Charlotte area chefs at Science Café – Carolina Catch of the Day on Tuesday, June 9 from 5 to 6:45 p.m. Presented by Discovery Place and Charlotte Area Science Network (CASN), the program will include samples of favorite seafood from North Carolina’s coastal waters.

“North Carolina seafood not only comes from the open ocean, but also from our sounds and other important estuaries, where the fresh and saltwater mix,” explains Michael Voiland, Sea Grant executive director. “Water quality in these coastal environments can be affected by inflows from upstream watersheds, and that, in turn, can affect the quality of coastal fish as food,” he notes.

Many consumers have questions about sustainability of specific species.

“Fish and other seafood caught in North Carolina must meet requirements of state or federal plans that limit catches or mandate specific gear in order not only to maintain that species’ stocks, but also to consider the health of the overall ecosystem,” notes Scott Baker, Sea Grant fisheries specialist based in Wilmington. For example, the herring fishery was closed in order to let the stocks recover.

Consumers also focus on the seasonal availability of fresh seafood, as well as the quality and safety of what they find in the stores.

“The desire for wholesomeness and concerns over the ‘carbon footprint’ of imported products are driving the demand for local food,” says Barry Nash, Sea Grant seafood technology and marketing specialist.

Nash says people also are eating more seafood because of its health attributes. “To better satisfy consumers’ growing interest in coastal commodities, North Carolina fishermen have begun education programs to tell the public when popular species are in season and how to discern the quality and protect the safety of fresh seafood.”

Sea Grant has developed a number of products to help consumers identify when specific seafood may be in season. The program has also helped several communities develop marketing campaigns, including the successful Carteret Catch.

North Carolina Sea Grant is a university-based program that provides research and outreach on a variety of coastal topics.

Science Café – Carolina Catch of the Day will include samples of North Carolina seafood dips, as well as cooking demonstrations by executive chefs, Tom Condron and Mark Hibbs, who support the local food movement and would love to see it grow in the Charlotte area:

Chef Tom Condron's international approach to life is most prominent in his cooking. At Charlotte's Mimosa Grill, Upstream, Arpa Wine Bar, Zink American, and their newest restaurant M5, he has blended his multicultural experiences with Southern cuisine to offer a unique selection of culinary wonders. Condron believes in supporting local farms and the best products, buying as much locally as possible. This is evident in the restaurants he oversees for the Harper's Restaurant Group. "Not every tomato is the same, or every scallop,” said Condron. “You must know your products and the best ways to prepare them. Classic techniques and great products are what count."

Ratcliffe on the Green owner and executive chef, Mark Hibbs, is fulfilling a long-held dream of creating farm-to-fork cuisine in a vibrant brasserie. His locavore sensibility makes him a true believer in creating meals from sustainable resources.

Pamlico Packing Company of Grantsboro and Sunburst Trout Company of Canton will provide seafood for the event.

Science Café – Carolina Catch of the Day is presented by Discovery Place and Charlotte Area Science Network (CASN) and sponsored by Charlotte Research Institute of UNC Charlotte.

Admission to Science Café – Carolina Catch of the Day is free. Donations will be accepted at the door by CASN to support Science Café. Free parking in the Museum’s parking garage – the Carol Grotnes Belk Complex – at the corner of Sixth and Church Streets is available for Science Café participants. Reservations are recommended as space is limited. To reserve, call 704-372-6261, x300.

Science Café aims to elevate public engagement in and knowledge of science as integral to life by providing opportunities for personal interaction and conversation with experts in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

About Charlotte Area Science Network

The Charlotte Area Science Network is a collaboration of leaders in the science community working together to foster education and industry partnerships to promote science for life in the Charlotte area.

About Discovery Place

Discovery Place is located in uptown Charlotte at 301 N. Tryon Street. Convenient parking is available in the Museum’s parking garage – the Carol Grotnes Belk Complex – at the corner of Sixth and Church Streets. For more information about Discovery Place, guests should call 704- 372-6261 or visit discoveryplace.org.

One of the top hands-on science museums in the nation, Discovery Place provides ever-changing, entertaining facilities that foster experiences in areas that range from life science to marine biology. More than a half-million people from all over the United States visit Discovery Place, its IMAX® Dome Theatre and Charlotte Nature Museum each year. Discovery Place is supported, in part, with a Basic Operating Grant from the Arts & Science Council.