Partner Spotlight: Wild Fish
Tucked in by the water’s edge in Pacific Grove sits a quaint, community centric home for local crafted cuisine. Both neighbors and tourists agree that getting hooked on Wild Fish Restaurant isn't hard since it’s easily one of the best catches around- and we couldn’t agree more! The brain child of Liz and Kelvin Jacobs, this special spot was birthed from the couple’s love for Monterey Bay and the locally farmed fish and food surrounding it.
On Thanksgiving Day in 2011, Wild Fish Restaurant opened and the Jacobs dream became a reality. Since they source all their ingredients locally, it’s not uncommon to see the chefs perusing Del Monte’s farmers market or opening the restaurant back door to a fisherman’s catch news for the weekend. Head chefs Elsah and Roger know all their farmers and fisherman by name. “When we choose what vendors to work with, we ask lots of questions about their values, systems, and how they operate. We care about the people who are growing and fishing just as much as what they’re growing and fishing,” says Elsah.
Part of buying and supporting sustainable operations is “taking what’s weird and what’s few.” (talk about a food motto to live by!) If a fishing vessel has a bycatch of 15-20 unexpected fish, Wild Fish will take it and run a special so the catch doesn’t go to waste. If a farmer has a bad crop or is trialing something new that’s not big enough for a large wholesaler, the chefs love to purchase it and experiment in their dishes. “It’s about being resourceful and taking in the bounty of the earth, a healthy rebellion against the reign of processed food.”
Using what’s organic, in season, and local are the pillars of what makes Wild Fish’s inventive plates so tasty and lovely. For them, food is an art that brings people together and we’re stoked to help them do that this month at the Sip and Sea Dinner! Providing a space for community members to hear about the adventures of fishing and farming, while eating the story-filled cuisine, is what it’s all about. Check out some of their mouth-watering meal photos below and try not to drool too much (though we wouldn’t blame you if it happened).
