Stein’s shellfish generosity

With all the Covid challenges faced by the hospitality industry at the moment, the impact of Brexit has been somewhat overlooked. However, this week Rick Stein helped to draw attention on the difficulties for the UK’s shellfish industry. Stein spotted the story of a lorry-load of live shellfish from supplier Nerys Edwards’ being stalled for 24 hours in Portsmouth due to new Brexit border rules and has since pledged to purchase Welsh lobster at risk of being wasted.

“Having seen Nerys on the news, I wanted to get in touch straight away,” says Stein. “I felt her pain, and as a company which works with fishermen, seafood and suppliers like Nerys on a daily basis, I wanted to help. We are in need of more lobsters in Cornwall, so the was an opportunity to help keep some of Nerys’ suppliers in business while she struggles to ship to Europe.”

The team already buys 500kg a week from Cornish suppliers, but now will be purchasing an additional 100kg from Welsh supplier Syren Shellfish. The lobsters will be used for the ‘Stein’s at Home’ boxes, which include everything to recreate a restaurant-quality meal at home. The lobster menu serves two and includes grilled scallops, lobster Thermidor and chocolate pavé – plus there’s 18 other boxes ranging from breakfast boxes to cheese platters.

Like many other restaurants, at-home boxes are giving the team a lifeline and opportunity to keep pushing forward, and it’s great to hear news of hospitality businesses continuing to look out for each other.

To find out more or purchase from Stein’s at Home online shop, visit the website here

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