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PRESS RELEASE                                                                   

April 17, 2008                                                                      

OCEANAIRE SEAFOOD ROOM FEATURES EXCLUSIVE ALASKAN KING CRAB CATCH
Joining the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” Crew Proves a Bountiful Seafaring Adventure

Houston, TX (April 17, 2008) - Seafood connoisseurs are in for a treat the next time they dine at one of 15 Oceanaire Seafood Room restaurants nationwide (www.theoceanaire.com).   The upscale seafood restaurant group known for serving ultra-fresh seafood, made an unprecedented boatload purchase of Alaskan king crab from the Fishing Vessel (F/V), Time Bandit.  The Time Bandit, is a member of the crab fishing fleet featured in the Discovery Channel’s hit series, “Deadliest Catch” and is owned by the Hillstrand Brothers, Andy, Johnathan and Neal.  After the catch was processed, Oceanaire acquired a whopping 40,000 pounds of its king crab clusters.

Wade Wiestling, Oceanaire’s vice president of culinary development, was accompanied by three executive chefs from their Seattle, Dallas, and Minneapolis restaurants.  They ventured to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and joined the Time Bandit crew in the chilly waters of the Bering Sea during the vessel’s all important last catch of the season.   The chefs experienced first-hand the challenges the crew faced and crabbing expertise required not only to bring in the catch, but also to survive the treacherous elements. 

 “We have never made a commitment to one product like this before,” said Wiestling.  “We did it because of the superior freshness and quality of the crab, our familiarity with the boat’s crew; and because Alaskan King Crab is a unique and sustainable offering for our guests.”   The culinary team was impressed by the fishermen’s quality standards and the way in which the catch was handled and processed.  

Alaskan King Crab is known for both its delicious taste and as a highly sustainable species due to strict fishing guidelines and practices.   Eric Donaldson, a global fish broker, says, “Oceanaire should be commended for making a commitment to using Alaska King Crab exclusively.  The fishery is one of the most stringently managed for sustainability of any fishery in the world.  Legal Alaska King Crab is male crab only, with minimum size requirements.  No female or juvenile crab can be retained as is commonplace in some foreign fisheries.” 

With the new 4th season of “Deadliest Catch” returning to Discovery Channel on April 15th, The Oceanaire expects their chefs will be preparing a bounty of Alaskan king crab throughout the spring season.   “It is really exciting to offer a seafood delicacy on a scale such as this,” added Wiestling. “We thought it would be a great fit for our restaurant, given our commitment to serving the highest quality sustainable seafood and our desire to provide guests with a special dining experience they can’t get anywhere else.” 

Alaskan king crab is served in two and three pound clusters and can be cracked and prepared tableside by an Oceanaire server.  This exclusive menu item is priced at $36.95 per pound and will continue to appear throughout 2008 or as long as supplies last.  

Asked if his chefs will join the Time Bandit crew again next year, Wiestling responded,   “It was an experience of a lifetime.   Our culinary team learned a great deal and it has enabled us to provide a unique item to our ever-changing menu.  So we would definitely consider doing it again.  Or, we just might find another delicious treat from the sea.   Ask me in a few months.”     

About The Oceanaire Seafood Room:

With locations in 15 major markets, The Oceanaire Seafood Room offers ultra-fresh seafood and exceptional service, all in the classic style of a 1930’s ocean liner.  Menus change daily based on the availability of the freshest seafood, flown in each day from around the world.  Guests savor entrees such as signature Chesapeake Bay Style Crab Cakes, Jumbo Shrimp Scampi, North Atlantic live lobster, and Alaskan king crab legs.  An expansive raw bar rounds out the restaurant’s award-winning culinary offerings.  For more information, visit:  www.theoceanaire.com

About The F/V Time Bandit

The Time Bandit is featured on Discovery Channel’s hit program “Deadliest Catch” and is owned and operated by the Hillstrand brothers, Andy, Johnathan, and Neal.    Johnathan typically skippers the vessel during Red King Crab and Andy skippers the Opilio and Bairdi fisheries.   Neal serves as the chief engineer.    The F/V Time Bandit was built in 1991 and is 113 feet in length.   The boat has a hold capacity of 120,000 pounds of King Crab, 170,000 pounds of Opilio Crab, and 350,000 of salmon.   For more information, visit their official website at www.timebandit.tv.   

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