Chef Rick Moonen graduated first in his class from the Culinary Institute of America in 1978. He apprenticed and worked at some of the finest restaurants in New York. In February 2005, Chef Moonen opened his multi-level restaurant Rick Moonen’s rm seafood at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. When not behind the stove, Moonen can be found throughout the country educating about the dangers of over fishing and ocean conservation.
As an industry leader, he has testified for environmental and sustainable policy issues in Washington, DC and New York. He is a founding member of the Seafood Choices Alliances, which named him “Seafood Champion” in 2006, as well as an active member of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Seaweb, and a chef’s advisory board member of Ecofish. He also has served as a spokesperson for American caviar, a more environmentally sound alternative to the Caspian Sea varieties, and he is often quoted for his expertise with various indigenous and exotic fish. His first cookbook, Fish Without a Doubt, was published in 2008.