The culinary event that has been dubbed ‘don’t miss’ by the New York Times will celebrate its twentieth year when the New Fish Festival is held on June 22. Several hundred people will have the opportunity to sample original recipes featuring fresh seafood at the Gloucester House Restaurant, Seven Seas Wharf, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Begun in 1985 to call attention to so called ‘underutilized species’ of fish, the New Fish Festival is a non-profit, joint venture of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, local fishermen, processors, Cape Ann restaurants, and cooking enthusiasts. In recent years, the menu has been expanded to include some of the more traditional species, offering Festival diners even more choices of seafood appetizers and entrees. Restaurants wishing to participate in the Festival are urged to contact the Chamber by June 20.

‘We’ve come a long way in 20 years toward raising public awareness of the diversity of fish,’ said Michael Costello, Chamber Executive Director. ‘When we began, monkfish and ocean catfish were considered ‘unusual’; now they are fish market and restaurant staples.’ The menu will feature unusual and exciting ways to prepare a variety of seafood, including catfish, monkfish, squid, halibut, bluefish, and cusk.

Admission to the New Fish Festival is $20 per person, which covers a wide variety of entrees and hors d’oeuvres, as well as salad and dessert. A cash bar will be available. Reservations may be made at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce at 978-283-1601. The Festival is an annual sell-out and advance ticket purchases are recommended.