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"Ripe To Tell">
My Buddy Got Some Fish
November 29, 2007
I used to scour the Fulton Fish Market for the “best” stuff
at 3am every couple of days. It was a major pain in the
ass, but I got a hold of seafood that some Chef’s only
dream about. But I paid top dollar, supply was
inconsistent, and I still had to get there at 3am if I
wanted to score.
Until I met two guys named Mike & Geo. I stumbled upon
these two brothers at the market one day when Red Snappers,
a staple menu item at the restaurant, was nowhere to be
found anywhere in the market. It was a Good Friday weekend,
and there was NO WAY I could go back to the restaurant
without any Snappers.
They heard me bargaining (more like BEGGING) with one of
the popular Red Snapper purveyors to cut another customers
order a little short, to allow me some of the last of the
Snappers in his stock, to no avail.
They approached me, listened to my MAJOR crisis like true
psychologists, recognized my accent as a Jamaican national,
then introduced themselves as fellow Jamaicans. They
quickly and confidentially turned to the gentleman I was
pleading with (it turned out to be their boss), whispered a
few words back and forth, then told me to hang back for a
bit, and with a wave of hand said “Soon Come!”
In a matter of minutes, Mike emerged from a hole in the
ground they call “The Dungeon”, with a white foam box that
had “Atlantic Salmon” written on the side in blue ink. A
little pissed off, I said “come on man, you know our people
not looking to eat Salmon on Good Friday, is Snapper or
nothing, man!”
With a big smile on his face, Mike said “take a look at
these Salmon, my Bredren!”
I peered into the box and saw the most pristine Red
Snappers I have ever laid my eyes on at the market in a
LONG time! Perfect eyes, not a sign of cloudiness, skin
glistening, firm to the touch, gills blood red.
“Where the hell were you hiding these?” I bellowed.
“Just cool, man, this is reserved for our Toppa Top customa
dem, and now dat we know you, yu is one of wi Toppa Top!”
Mike responded.
Well, since that day when I moved up the ranks and became a
“Toppa Top” customer, I have never left Mike & Geo to go
ANYWHERE else for seafood.
I am very fortunate to have developed a great professional
and personal relationship with these two brothers, and it’s
just an incredible feeling to get the absolute best from
the most popular and diverse seafood market in America,
where all the finest restaurants and top chefs go, and
probably sometimes still don’t get the quality that I get,
because they aren’t considered “Toppa Top!”.
Mike & Geo consistently procure the absolute best product,
even better than I was able to get wandering around at 3am.
I am also a lot less cranky, as I no longer have to go to
the market at those ungodly hours to beg for fish!
It is true that I pay a bit more for the immaculate fish,
but it is worth EVERY penny!
As a tribute to Mike & Geo, this weekend only, we will be
doing fish the way they like it best.
“Fish Inna Foil”
Supreme fresh Red and Yellowtail Snappers wrapped in foil
with a seafood broth, mixed vegetables, okra and spinach,
and roasted in the oven till just tender and DELICIOSO!
Other specials to follow: Caribbean Crabcakes, ……and
others…come check us out….
Come on down this weekend and get your fish on!
Regards,
The Chef!
P.S.
Check out the Ackee & Saltfish Fritter—A ripe exclusive
recipe as seen on the CBS Morning Show. “Tony’s Table”
segment. Cut and paste the link below into your browser:
http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=105689@wcbs.dayport.com
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