RECAP: Port Orford SeaFest
Saturday, March 1st, 2-6pm — Mr. Ed’s Underground Pub, Port Orford, OR
We had a blast in Port Orford at SeaFest, a fun, free, family-friendly event at Mr. Ed’s Underground Pub. The afternoon event celebrated local seafare and the people who make it all possible.
Port Orford-based organization Oregon Kelp Alliance showed up in full force, with a marine touch tank with live sea urchins! The event kicked off with a welcome from Port Orford Mayor (and major ocean enthusiast) Ann Vileisis.
Ericka from Oregon Albacore Commission set up a table with information about Pacific Albacore, and even presented a whole Albacore for event-goers to experience up close and personal. There’s an unritten rule stating that you must poke the fish’s eyeball a little bit! Thank you to Chelsea Rose Seafood and commercial fisherman Brett Montaugue of F/V Jo El for providing us with whole fish.
In addition to the eyeball poking experience, local commercial fisherman Wilson Thompson of F/V Fantasy lead an Albacore tuna cutting demonstration on stage. Little did we know his demo would double as a comedy routine! Someone needs to get Wilson into stand up…
Once the fish was cut, Winter Waters Co-Founder Rachelle Hacmac showed the crowd her favorite way to make a quick poke (recipe on our Recipes page), using simple ingredients like rice vinegar, green onion, coconut aminos, and seaweed, of course. Everyone got to try a bite!
Other samples available at the event included dulse seaweed chocolate by Bruce’s Candy Kitchen in Newport, a Pacific Pink Shrimp aguachile using shelf stable pouched local shrimp by Oregon’s Choice, and kelp pickles from Barnacle Foods.
It wouldn’t be a Winter Waters event without a seaweed, right? Alanna Kieffer, of Oregon Seaweed, lead a demonstration and tasting of Pacific Dulse, a red seaweed farmed in Bandon and Garibaldi, Oregon. Following the demos, Alanna lead the group in a round of Ocean Trivia - and the winners got Barnacle’s Bullwhip Kelp Hot Sauce as a prize. Following trivia, local musician Jenae Kelly played acoustic classic rock and country, both originals and covers!
Additional participating organizations include:
Mr. Ed’s served a seaweed beer by Steeplejack Brewing along with a tuna-tastic menu special highlighting canned Oregon Albacore by Fishpatrick’s and Alaskan kelp. A portion of sales went to our non-profit partner, Oregon Kelp Alliance.
A huge thank you to Discover Port Orford, Port Orford Main Street, and Travel Curry Coast for sponsoring Winter Waters on the South coast. Thank you to Alexis Willick, with the locally loved Southern Oregon Artisan Market. Huge thanks to Crystal from Mr. Ed’s Underground Pub. Thank you Kim Foster for all your support in organizing these events, and for the great photos!
