MSC certified sustainable seafood now in Colorado restaurants

DENVER, Aug. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Denver restaurants Bamboo Sushi, To the Wind Bistro and Pub 17 on Welton Street, together with Boulder's Wild Standard and Vail's Terra Bistro, have become the firsts in Colorado to serve Marine Stewardship Council certified seafood and display the blue MSC ecolabel. Coloradans now have five convenient dining options for discovering and experiencing MSC certified sustainable seafood.

The blue MSC ecolabel assures consumers that the fish they are enjoying comes from a sustainable and well-managed fishery that has been independently certified, ensuring that fish populations, and the ecosystems upon which they depend, remain healthy and productive. Each supplied by Colorado-based Seattle Fish Co., the independent restaurants are artfully preparing a variety of MSC certified seafood options for their customers to enjoy, knowing there will be plenty more for tomorrow.                                                                                                                               

This spring, the Portland, Oregon-based Bamboo Sushi – the first certified-sustainable sushi restaurant in the U.S. – celebrated the opening of its location in Avanti Food & Beverage and plans to open a larger Denver location later this year. Bamboo Sushi founder and CEO Kristofor Lofgren said, "We believe it is imperative to create a restaurant where people can get the freshest and best fish possible, while simultaneously helping to save the oceans and marine life."

Commenting on To the Wind Bistro's participation, owners/chefs Royce Oliviera and Leanne Adamson, said: "At our small, neighborhood restaurant, the menu changes daily, but one thing we never want to see go away is fresh seafood. It's important to us that the fish we prepare for our guests is going to be around for them to enjoy again tomorrow."

Executive chef John Treusein of Pub 17 on Welton Street in Grand Hyatt Denver noted: "The Marine Stewardship Council is the perfect complement to Hyatt's culinary concept: Food. Thoughtfully Sourced.  Carefully Served, promoting healthy people, healthy communities and a healthy planet."

Derek Beril, executive chef of Wild Standard explained: "Serving MSC certified seafood is part of our pledge to land and sea. Not only will people get to experience an exciting cuisine, they will also know that they are helping to ensure that the sea and all its treasures are there for coming generations."

Terra Bistro executive chef Shawn Miller said: "We diligently research the origins, treatment, cultivation, and harvest methods of everything we purchase." Terra Bistro chef de cuisine Rob Lewis continued, "The heart and soul of Terra Bistro lies in our dedication to forming alliances with farmers, ranchers, fisheries, and suppliers who care for their ingredients and products in accordance with our core values. As a result, our recipes and menu items are developed from a foundation of perfect beginnings."

The MSC is widely recognized as the world's most credible certification program for wild-caught sustainable seafood and supply chain traceability. Any organization selling or handling MSC certified seafood must ensure that it is correctly labelled and kept separate from other non-certified seafood at all times. This ensures that MSC labelled seafood can be traced back to a sustainable source.

Derek Figueroa, Chief Operating Officer, Seattle Fish Co.: "Seattle Fish was the first in the Rocky Mountain region to be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council as a supplier of sustainable seafood – from catch to cook.  Our commitment to sustainability is deeper than ever.  The partnership between these committed restaurants, Seattle Fish, and the MSC is an example of our continued focus on responsible sourcing and speaks to our guiding principle, "We Sustainably Feed People".  It's exciting to work with the MSC and these innovative restaurants to promote sustainable seafood in Colorado."

Maggie Beaton, MSC commercial manager - Americas, said: "This is an important milestone for the MSC and sustainable seafood in Colorado. The restaurants participating with the MSC are demonstrating to their customers the importance of sustainable seafood. I'm proud of our Colorado partners for taking this bold and important step."

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SOURCE Marine Stewardship Council