Andrew Ryland Spurgin, Seafood Education & Events Director, has built a culinary career spanning three decades. He has designed menus and events honoring such dignitaries as U.S. Presidents Clinton and Reagan, former Soviet Union President Gorbachev, Israeli Prime Minister Peres, California Governors Wilson and Davis, and Martha Stewart. Some of his regular clients include Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Merrill Lynch and Qualcomm.

A champion of sustainable, handcrafted, organic, regional and farmstead foods, Andrew grew up in his aunts' restaurant in London, and his relatives' famed butcher shop, Drakes in Suffolk. His restaurateur aunts introduced him early to the bounty of local markets and to all types of purveyors. He started "working" in his family's restaurant and at London's historic Borough Street Market at the age six.

At the age of 19, Andrew became banquet manager for a major resort, and later, general manager of one of California's first handcrafted, on-premise bakery/restaurants. He was director of catering at Southern California's celebrated Pirets. Andrew has consulted and worked for London's preeminent Mustard Catering Ltd. and taught by Neal's Yard Dairy, also in London. Andrew is currently the executive director of Waters Fine Catering /Waters Fine Foods in San Diego.

His events, interviews and photographs have been featured in numerous local and national magazines and television. He lectures regularly on sustainability of food and on entertaining. Andrew was voted one of four national finalists in 1999, 2001, and 2003 as Caterer of the Year by Event Solutions Magazine; in 2000, the same publication named Andrew and the Passionfish program a finalist for its Samaritan award. Andrew has been honored with an invitation to cook at the famed James Beard House in New York City. He also sits on the Director's Cabinet for Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is on the Board of Directors for the International Catering Association and is an honorary member of the E.W. Scripps Associates.

After driving Land Rovers for 25 years, Andrew suffers from acute petroleum remorse and as such can be found instead on his Vespa Super Sport as often as possible. His favorite place to be is in or by the ocean.