Rick Moonen Sets Seafood Straight

By JULIETTE ROSSANT Following my recent blog enrtry on Rick Moonen and Bumble Bee Tuna, Rick wrote me an email further clarifying his relationship to Bumble Bee and the launch of his new restaurant: Thanks for your kind words about me and my new restaurant, rm seafood at Mandalay Palace. I am excited to bring the very best seafood, ambience and cuisine in the United States to Las Vegas. rm seafood will provide elegant fine dining while downstairs, rbarcafe offers a rocking raw bar and casual ambiance. Both restaurants will feature fresh finds from America's best Fish Markets. rm seafood will open some time late in December: I hope that you will come visit. I do want to clarify one thing. I am not a spokesperson for Bumble Bee. I did develop some recipes and appeared as an invited guest speaker at a recent event hosted by them. Bumble Bee was interested in my perspective as a Chef and seafood expert who is active in ocean conservation. I accepted the invitation and used the opportunity to educate about eco-friendly fish and sustainability issues that are important to me. I welcome their interest and the opportunity to begin a dialogue with the largest tuna producer in the world on issues that are vital to me as someone who makes his living selling seafood and is environmentally conscious. As you may know, preserved tuna has a long history with many cultures and cuisine. Research shows that tuna steaks, in all preparations -- raw, fresh, canned or marinated -- are high in protein and Vitamin B, low in fat and provide essential Omega-3 oils. The premium entre style albacore tuna steaks are a high quality product and offer one convenience option to consumers. Well said, Rick: many thanks for the clarifications. As for tuna, I like mine raw or from Italy (somehow Italian canned tuna is far tastier than the American kind) -- but I will beeline (sorry) for rm seafood when next I am in Las Vegas! Previous articles: Buzz-Buzz-Splash, Super Chef Chef Branding: B&G Foods Exposes Emeril? Lights, Camera, Cooking! (from Nation's Restaurant News)