Maine is known for its delicious seafood, but there’s much more to it than just lobster and haddock. The fishermen in Harpswell catch a wide variety of lesser-known species. From monkfish and whiting to bluefin tuna, there’s a lot to discover.
On April 26, The School House 1913 hosted a seafood awareness fundraiser for the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, a nonprofit organization that supports working waterfront communities and a healthy Gulf of Maine ecosystem. The event aimed to introduce the Harpswell community to some lesser-known seafood species while celebrating both the culinary expertise of The School House 1913 and the bounty of Maine seafood.
The event featured six dishes that demonstrated new flavor combinations and showcased the versatility of each species. For example, whiting was prepared both blackened and fried in tacos served with a lemony slaw, chipotle aioli, and cilantro lime crema. Bluefin tuna was served as ceviche made with cucumber and cherry tomatoes. Monkfish was used for sweet and smoky kebabs, as well as for Maine Coast Monkfish Stew.
The Fishermen’s Association created Maine Coast Monkfish Stew to raise awareness and revenue for its Fishermen Feeding Mainers program, which provides meals to those facing food insecurity in Maine.
The stew recently won a Good Food Award, based on sustainability, flavor and local sourcing. The stew is available for purchase at more than 70 locations statewide, including Iris Eats in Harpswell.
The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association is active in the Harpswell community in many ways. In collaboration with other organizations, it hosts a series of informational panels about waterfront issues. The association has also put together an informational booklet called “Scuttlebutt: How to Live and Work in a Waterfront Community.”
For more information or to donate, go to mainecoastfishermen.org.
