Shirley Plantation Event Features Home-Grown Freshwater Prawns, Emphasizes Sustainable, Farm-to-Table Food
Norfolk, VA – For the second straight year, students and faculty from the Culinary Institute of Virginia have been invited to prepare the feast at the annual Shirley Plantation Shrimp Boil, featuring locally-grown freshwater prawns. Larger than regular shrimp, these especially-large delicacies are native to Asia, but grown in specially-designed ponds on the plantation’s grounds.
“There are no chemicals used to grow our freshwater shrimp and they will be consumed within a few feet of where they are produced,” says Shirley Plantation Foundation President Charles Carter. “This event is designed to be great deal of fun, but also highlights the importance of locally-grown food. There’s no transportation cost or impact to the environment, plus the food source and handling is known. Our shrimp are raised on grain produced here on the farm. Simply put, they are the freshest shrimp you will ever eat.
“Shrimp purchased at a store or restaurant often come from half a world away, are transported frozen and stored for weeks at the cost of many gallons of fuel burned. They also contribute to declining fish stocks, and can be mislabeled and come from countries with less stringent environmental or health regulations than the U.S.”
Scheduled for Saturday, September 17 from 3:00 to 7:30 pm at 501 Shirley Plantation Road in Charles City, Virginia, the Shrimp Boil will also include potatoes, corn and kielbasa cooked in a spicy Creole broth. Tickets are available online at https://squareup.com/market/shirley-plantation-foundation or in the Shirley Plantation gift shop.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students,” says Culinary Institute of Virginia Chef Greg Burroughs. “Upon graduation, many of our students may be involved with outdoor catering which involves a specific array of challenges involving sanitation and temperature control.
“They also gain exposure to the farm-to-table movement. More and more people are interested in eating food that is grown in nearby, sustainable environments. The aquaculture operation at Shirley Plantation is an excellent example of this.”
For more information about this event, please contact Chef Greg Burroughs at 757.858.2433 or gburroughs@chefva.com. Media inquiries may be directed to ECPI University Director of Marketing at 757.490.9090 or publicrelations@ecpi.edu.
About ECPI University
ECPI University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate's, baccalaureate, and master's degrees and diplomas. SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. A private university founded in 1966, ECPI University has campuses in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, and offers convenient classes during the day, evening, and online; graduate employment services, continuing education, certification classes, and testing are also available.
On campus or online, fields of study include: HEALTH SCIENCES: Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing (RN to BSN), BS to BSN, Nursing (RN), Practical Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Health Information Management, Physical Therapist Assistant, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Radiography, Sonography, Surgical Technology; TECHNOLOGY: Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Cyber and Network Security, Information Systems, Software Development, Cloud Computing, Web Development, Database Programming, Electronics Engineering Technology, Mechatronics/Advanced Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering Technology; BUSINESS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Accounting, Business Administration, IT Management, Hospitality Management, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security; CULINARY: Culinary Arts, Culinary Nutrition, Food Service Management, Baking and Pastry Arts. (Program field availability varies by campus.) For more information, visit www.ecpi.edu.
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