Blue catfish were introduced to the James and Rappahannock rivers in the 1970s as a sport fish; and over the last 50 years they and have spread throughout the Chespeake Bay watershed. As many invasive species do, catfish have had detrimental effects on native species such as rockfish, bluecrab and shad. Effots to remove the fish are in full swing. Govenor Moore of MD even applied for a federal emergency to be instituted to help fund projects. A great way to help eliminate the invaders from our waters while simultanously supporting local communities, is to eat them. Adult blue catfish don't live on the bottom or in holes, so there is no "muddy" flavor that is sometimes associated with catfis...

Shrimp is the most consumed seafood item worldwide! And for good reason. Shrimp are packed with protein and other nutrients, they are affordable and widely accessible. Atlantic shrimp are some of the tastiest and cleanest shrimp on the market. These shrimp run form the mouth of the Chesepeake down to Key West. But what makes our coast generate such amazing shrimp? It's the accumulation of the the sweeter spartina grass, higher tides and deeper/colder water flows. So, when we received a shipment of fresh shrimp out of North Carolina this week, we knew we had to try some and our family favorite shrimp and grits recipe was the perfect way to highlight these shrimp.

Ingredients:

Grits:

1c yello...

Salmon stir-fry is a popular meal in our house. It's a dish we all love and one that can be on the table in 20 minutes. If you have the forethought to get the salmon in the marinade the night before, it makes for an even quicker prep. But I do have a few cheats up my sleeve if you're really pressed for time.

Marinade:

-1/2c low sodium tamari (we use tamari in our house because it's gluten free, soy sauce works here too, just make sure it's low sodium)

-1/3c water

-6" piece of fresh lemongrass

-1-1.5" piece of ginger, peeled

- 1 clove garlic

-1-2 limes juiced and the zest from 1

-1 tbsp toasted sesame oil

-4 6-8oz Salmon portions (skin on or off, leave that up to preference)

-2c long grai...

Rockfish season has been phenomenal this year. Fish being caught in Maryland and Virginia have been arriving fresh every week. Here is a great recipe to showcase our home waters' bounty and kick start the warming up of the spring season.

Ingredients:

Chimichurri

• 2 cup Flat-leaf parsley finely chopped


• 1-2 tbsp Oregano finely chopped


• 1 small Shallot minced


• 3 Garlic cloves minced


• ½ – ¾ cup Olive oil


• 2 tbsp Red wine vinegar


• ½ Lemon juiced


• 1 tsp Fine sea salt


• ½ tsp Black pepper


• ½ tsp Red chili flakes (optional)

Rice

• 2 cups Long-grain rice


• 2 tbsp Butter


• 2 small Shallots minced


• 2 cups Fish / chicken stock


• 2 cups Water


• 1 tsp Fine sea salt


• ½ tsp Black pepper

Fish

• 1 &frac...

Roasting is my favorite way to cook whole fish. Intimidating at first, but you couldn't ask for an easier prep/cleanup for such a show stopping presentation. Whether you want to wow guests, get a better bang for your buck, or want join in on the zero food waste movement and use the bones and head to make a stock for your next fish chowder; roasting a whole fish has benefits over just pan frying a fillet. Not every fish is conducive to whole roasting, but we do have a couple of options here at the shop and one of those this week is, Red Snapper. Using herbs, garlic and capers you'll create an aromatic bright flavor that will pair nicely with this slightly sweet, slightly nutty mild fish.

Ingr...

Adapted from a 2013 recipe from Food & Wine Magazine, this Sauteed Trout 'wows' in every way. It's flavorful and quick. An elevated weeknight meal that pairs well with any type of side from risotto or herb roasted potatoes to steamed asparagus or a simple spring salad.

I grew up eating trout. Until middle school, aside from fish sticks, it was the only fish I had ever eaten. We'd spend weekends camping along side the trout streams in Wardensville; Paddy's Run was a huge part of my life. I never had the patience to fish, so I spent more time picking flowers and flipping over stones looking for crawfish while wadding through the cold stream. My brother's continue the tradition and you can find...

Another amazing recipe from Bon Appetite Magazine. Drunken Clams with Noodles. This warming and nourishing soup is great for these cold days; and not just that but it comes together FAST! These ingredients elevate this recipe, and while they may not be a pantry staple are key to building the flavor.

Find the recipe here

In this month's issue of Bon Appetite (pg. 22) is a simple yet tantalizing recipe for Tumeric Caramel Cod. While caraml might not be your first choice of sauce to pair with fish, the balance of sweet from the brown sugar, salty from the soy and heat from cayenne creates a robust sauce that is the star of the meal. This dish is paired with simple basmati rice, fresh lime wedges (adding in an addition layer to the cod with the smack of citrus) and a fresh herb salad with tender cilantro, mint and sweet onion.

This recipe will be posted at our "Inspiration Station" near the entrance of the shop.

October is National Seafood Month, so what's a better way to step into the world of blogging than talking about seafood?

As the weather cools, we've finally started to see Large Rockfish, off our Mid-Atlantic Coast line. Just like the snow birds of the East Coast, they head south as the weather cools.

Rockfish, also known as Striped Bass or Stripers are an exciting fish for us to source. Not only do we get to bring in local caught fish, but we also get to support local fisherman and our local industry.

Below you'll find one of my favorite recipes for Rockfish.

Lemon and Herb Rockfish

1 lb. Rockfish Fillets portioned into 4 pieces

1TBSP butter

1tsp chopped fresh thyme

1.5 tsp dried oregano

1 small pi...