July 4, 2013 — In case you’ve been living under a rock – or shell, even – Barnegat Light’s Viking Village is home to one of the world’s most successful scalloping industries. Viking Fresh scallops are starting to pop up on menus as far south as Florida. For the last five years, the Larson family and the staff it takes to run the Village provide Viking Fresh seafood for an opening-to-summer festival in tribute to the many culinary delights that await in the local sea.
On Saturday, the Jazzy Scallop and Seafood Festival drew record numbers, according to Sharon McKenna, the education and special events coordinator for the festival. A dozen restaurants were given Viking Village seafood fresh off the boat and used it to craft bite-sized culinary delicacies to entice patrons who paid the $25-$30 entrance fee, while the restaurants competed for a People’s Choice Award.
At least $4,500 is expected to go toward scholarships for marine science or music students attending either Southern Regional High School or the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science. Several mayors of nearby towns attended this year, including John Spodofora of Stafford Township, Robert Keeler of Beach Haven, Joseph Mancini of Long Beach Township and Kirk Larson of Barnegat Light.
“It was great because for the first time we really reached out to all the Island mayors to come up – so they could know more about what’s going on in the upper portion of the Island,” said McKenna. “After everything that happened with Superstorm Sandy, we’re more closely knit.”
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