I’ve lived within the shore space since my teenage years, and I think about myself a neighborhood.
And as a neighborhood, I do know the very best spots for a freshly caught lobster dinner, steamed and able to get pleasure from at a picnic desk on the dock. I do know the place to get the very best entire clam bellies, fried completely crisp, and the place to purchase candy, contemporary scallops as huge as my palm, proper off the boats.
With all of this in thoughts, it’s possible you’ll be questioning why I’m writing a few fish market that’s 80 miles from the shore. After a glance inside Metropolitan Seafood, although, you’ll not solely perceive, however you’ll may be planning your personal journey there as nicely!
First Impressions
The very first thing I seen about Metro is its dimension. The store is fairly huge. It’s additionally shiny and orderly, and upon coming into, I instantly felt welcome. I browsed a bit, noticing the refrigerated part stocked with soups, compound butters, sauces, and mignonette. I additionally discovered a choice of caviar, smoked fish, seafood salads, and Lebanese specialties.
Mark Drabich, proprietor of Metropolitan Seafood, was sort sufficient to spend a while telling me concerning the seafood market and his historical past within the enterprise.
Exhausting at Work
At age 15, Drabich’s first job was in a neighborhood fish market. As he gained expertise within the trade, he went on to work in fish markets. He labored as a fish cutter in each New York and Philadelphia. (A fish cutter is chargeable for making ready seafood merchandise on the market by breaking down entire fish into filets or steaks, and/or eradicating, scales, and bones.)
Drabich was quick, however he additionally did “fancy” work, which earned him a major spot within the fish market window the place crowds would collect to observe his fancy knifework. He opened his first retailer within the neighboring city of Clinton 34 years in the past.
All Concerning the Fish
What makes Metropolitan Seafood so particular, in fact, is the fish, sourced from the world-famous, Fulton Fish Market. Celebrating its two hundredth yr in operation, the Fulton Fish Market is without doubt one of the oldest markets in the US, and is thought the world over by fishmongers who worth high-quality merchandise. Along with Fulton, Metropolitan Seafood sources its seafood from a couple of further, choose distributors.
Every part on the market is available in entire and is expertly damaged down by Metropolitan’s famous person fish cutters. Whereas this can be a time-consuming course of, it ensures that each one fish is reduce exactly to Metro’s requirements. This preserves the standard and minimizes waste.
On the Counter
Strolling as much as the fish counter at Metropolitan Seafood is an expertise. The individuals working behind the counter are busy! They’re chopping fish, serving to prospects, and cleansing the work areas. It’s a synchronized dance of movement and motion behind the counter! The fish has vibrant colours, with flesh that’s shiny, virtually glowing. You’ll be able to simply inform that the standard is supreme.
The choice impressed me. I counted 12 kinds of oysters from all around the nation: from Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, and Washington State, plus Canada.
I took a little bit style take a look at to expertise the distinction between East and West Coast varieties and discovered that the style of the oyster varies relying on the minerals and salinity of the water the place it’s caught.
It could not be doable for me to go to a seafood market of this caliber with out bringing one thing dwelling for dinner. The sushi-grade halibut appeared to be calling my identify. After I requested how finest to arrange it I used to be not solely given a easy recipe however the fishmonger even took the time to jot down it down for me. Now that’s service!
Straightforward Halibut Recipe
Components:
- Halibut (sufficient for two servings)
- Olive oil, for coating the pan
- Contemporary herbs of your selecting
- 1 cup white wine
- ½ stick butter
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven 400° F.
- Flippantly rinse the fish in chilly water after which dry it utterly.
- Begin with a lightweight coating of oil in an ovenproof pan.
- Get the oil scorching and sear the fish pores and skin facet down for 3 minutes.
- Gently flip the fish and prepare dinner the flesh facet for an extra 2 minutes.
- Add contemporary herbs (not dried!) to the pan with a few cup of white wine.
- Bake for 10 minutes precisely.
- Take the pan out (fastidiously, with an oven mitt) and swirl in butter: about ½ stick.
- Get pleasure from!
A True Expertise
Metropolitan Seafood, doesn’t simply ship good customer support, they excel at it. Their motto and philosophy are to supply prospects with a “Resort Expertise.” They need you to really feel welcome while you arrive.
Browse the freshly stocked cabinets of connoisseur objects. Ask questions concerning the fish and the way finest to arrange it. You is likely to be provided a chunk of one thing — like a West Coast oyster or a sliver of contemporary salmon when you wait.
A cease at Metro isn’t a chore, the best way meals buying could be, it’s an expertise, the best way meals buying must be. It’s a components that retains prospects coming again as a result of you realize you’ll get a superior product and it’s going to be a pleasing expertise.
You should definitely take a look at Metropolitan Seafood’s web site for updates on each day seafood availability, the takeout menu, and specials. And in case you are on the lookout for an actual, ongoing present, additionally observe Metropolitan Seafood on Instagram and Facebook to see reels and photos of the famous person cutters in motion.
Metropolitan Seafood and Gourmet Market
1320 Route 22
West Lebanon, NJ 08833
908-840-4332
