Wednesday,14 March,2012 15:26:33
Amazingly yesterday was so warm compared to previous days but the third day dawns and its windy and raining. I get moving at 6:00 a.m. as I have breakfast meeting organized at the Westin Hotel alongside the conference center.
The coach trip in from the hotel is quiet today – I have the whole coach to myself. Had a good chat with the driver who highlights the weather pattern has been unusual this last winter in being unseasonably warm. Boston is a great sporting town and he highlights all the sports and Boston successes – he clearly loves the Celtics…
After breakfast I head to the show but there are not the crowds of the two previous days which means this is quality talk time so I aim to catch up with some people I had promised to meet.
I forgot to mention that yesterday I popped into the Seafood Substitution panel discussion and raised the question – “If you cannot have certainty about the species you are handling then how can you have an approved food safety plan?” After some initial stunned silence from the panel there was talk about the use of the USFDA Species list but I am not sure how enshrined that is in law or in organizational food safety plans. During the third day I ask a couple of food safety experts and neither of them could answer with certainty. It is an important question and it could create a major headache if not properly resolved.
It was good to have the chance to speak to a few of the media people who were passing through the Press Room. Media people from around the globe come to the event. In fact the Press Room was the scene of an “incident” during the day. An unsavory type had sneaked in when the desk was busy and started helping himself to drinks, belching loudly and talking to himself. Things turned a little ugly when asked to leave but Adam took a firm stance and peace was soon resolved in the Press Room. \
Linda O’Dierno on the National Aquaculture Association stand explained about their programs and the work they had been doing so I hope that we can exchange some resources and ideas. Linda has got some great ideas but highlighted that they survive on grant money, which seems to be a universal problem. Investment in the development of the industry is lacking.
The last few hours of the show are moving fast and soon you get the vibe that it is time to move out as the stands start tidying their paperwork and prepare to bump out of the show for another year.
A quick catch up and goodbye with people in the Westin lobby and you know IBSS is over for another year. It has been a full couple of days and now everyone is heading back to their homes and businesses and its back to the important regular work and following up on leads.
A trip to Boston is not complete without a visit to a Legal Sea Foods restaurant and with a couple of friends we head to the newest location at Harborside. An unusually warm day sees the restaurant in its splendor with the harbor waters glimmering in the sunlight. Being a tad on the early side there is no problem in getting a table and the Legal Sea Foods experience begins. What I love is the fact that their waiters are well trained and versed in seafood, tell the truth and provide great efficient personal service. I would have to say that overall service in USA is generally better than Australia.
I have a bucket of steamers as an appetizer and a main course of Arctic Char and my friend shares the steamers and has the Portuguese Seafood Soup. Magnificent! I am impressed with the new restaurant which has a number of levels which all seem to open up onto decks. It is a Tuesday night and it is early and the place is packed and humming.
Tiredness is creeping in and an early night beckons as it’s an early start to get back on my journey in the morning.