Gerrit and I have an affinity for fresh seafood and we are so lucky to live down the street from Santa Monica Seafood during the baseball off season (the Newport Beach location). Santa Monica Seafood has one of the largest selections of fresh fish, live shellfish, and frozen seafood in the southwest. When you walk in, you see an abundant fish market with a staff that is happy to help direct you to what you’re looking for. We like to cook what is in season and that goes for not only produce, but fish too. We usually walk in and see which fish looks fresh, see where it was caught, and pick wild caught when possible. From there, we decide what type of preparation we are going to use. The staff here is always friendly and helpful letting us know when different fish come in and give us preparation suggestions.
Santa Monica seafood also has a market and café and serves lunch and dinner. The specials and menu change based on the season but my absolute favorite is their cioppino (tied with the cioppino from Fly n’ fish restaurant, also in Newport Beach). I like pairing this dish with an acidic red like a Pinot noir to go with the red sauce. Their specials and menu change depending on the season. We love stopping in for happy hour at their oyster bar and sampling their large selection of oysters from all over the world with a glass of champagne.
