2000s Archive

Do I Dare to Eat a Shrimp?

continued (page 3 of 3)

At five o’clock the next morning, Abraham hollers for me to get out of bed and into the boat. On balance, I can’t say I feel any qualms. At least not about what I have eaten.

Buyer’s Guide to Shrimp

Despite the improvements the industry is making, securing environmentally sustainable shrimp can still require a bit of legwork. It can also be a little confusing, because there is no system of standards that applies to all shrimp.

If you are looking for a general rule of thumb, follow the advice of Seafood Watch: “Shrimp from the United States are generally good alternatives to imported sources.” Pink shrimp from the West Coast (a small but tasty “salad” species) and spot prawns earn the organization’s “Best” rating; shrimp from the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico are considered “Good.” Imported shrimp, whether farmed or trawled, are rated “Avoid.”

An updated list of sources for Certified Wild American shrimp can be found at wildamericanshrimp.com. In the South and East, Wal-Mart and supermarkets such as A&P, Albertsons, Super One, and Kroger carry wild American shrimp, but they are not available at all times at all locations.

Tracking down OceanBoy shrimp can be even harder, because the company produces only between July and December, and the supply quickly runs out. When available, the shrimp can be ordered through Costco. —B.E.

Comments

Post a Comment

Please be advised that Gourmet magazine will cease publication after the November issue.

Subscribers can look forward to receiving Bon Appetit magazine for the remainder of their subscription. The Gourmet.com website will remain available during a transitional period, and access to Gourmet recipes will also remain available via sister site Epicurious.com and the Epi iPhone application.

We regret any inconvenience, and look forward to your continued readership. For questions about your Gourmet magazine subscription, please follow this link to subscription services.

The Oct. 23-25 Gourmet Institute events will not take place. Additional information is available at gourmetinstitute.com.

If you purchased the GOURMET TODAY cookbook and would like to take advantage of the offer on the back flap, click here for more information.
Subscribe to Gourmet

Conde Nast Store
Give the Gift of Gourmet

Subscribe

Subscribe to Gourmet
Diary of a Foodie

From Vermont to Vietnam, take a global culinary tour with season three of our award-winning public television show, Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie.
Video

Watch chef Chris Cosentino use a blowtorch, a razor, and a carving knife to butcher a whole pig’s head, which he uses to make porchetta di testa.