Since time immemorial, the Adriatic has provided fresh supplies for Venice restaurants and homes. A visit to the Grand Canal-side fish market, under its splendid neo-Gothic arches, provides a slippery, writhing introduction to moeche (soft-shelled crabs), schie (tiny gray shrimps), capelunghe (razor clams), and other wondrous marine creatures. Seafood is the foundation of the city's cuisine, but it's not the whole story.
The county is home to an abundance of quality produce, from artisan cheeses (who doesn't love a Baron Bigod?) and craft ciders to responsibly-farmed meats and day-boat fish straight from the North Sea. Scattered across the countryside are countless farm shops, brimming with seasonal fruit and vegetables, whilst on the coast you'll find seafood shacks serving up freshly caught crabs, lobsters and smoked fish.
A former Upper East Side icon that's now based in Florida, Swifty's quickly became the sought-after reservation for Hamptons-goers after expanding to The Hedges Inn. With its preppy, pink-hued setting, this place is yet another component to the Palm Beachification of Eastern Long Island (see: Mary Lou's Montauk). But though the dishes are prissy-a "pink" lobster roll features lobster salad made with Marie Rose sauce-they still satisfy.
Picture this: You're driving down a Long Island highway on a summer day, you hit the Hamptons, but then you just ... keep going. Eventually, you hit what locals call The End: Montauk. Over the years, Montauk has transformed from a sleepy little surfing town to a full-blown haven for influencers and Wall Street bankers. But for every new bar or club (we see you, Bounce and Surf Lodge), there are places that have been around for decades.
Cod liver has lived another life: packed in squat tins, as unassuming as a can of shoe polish, layered gently in its own golden, rich omega-3 oil.
Shellfish and other seafood can make a delightful swap for red meat in a variety of dishes, whether you're making a batch of slow-cooked carnitas, a hearty lasagna, or grilling food on the barbecue.
Salmon is a key shaper of Washington's unique marine nutrient-fed landscape. I, like most Washingtonians, grew up reenacting the salmon run in school, going on field trips to spawning grounds, visiting tribal and community-led salmon barbecues, and having the fish in my family's fridge at all times. Salmon is the backbone of Washington and the lifestyle of those who call it home.
Nopa wasn't just seasonally inspired and farm-to-table at a time when seasonally inspired and farm-to-table hadn't yet permeated the city. It was a place whose ethos making everything in-house, from scratch and atmosphere were as much of a draw as its damn good Cal-Mediterranean menu and thoughtful cocktails and wine list.
The reopening of Cap't Cass Rock Harbor Seafood in Orleans has brought joy to the community, as patrons share their cherished summer memories in a guest book filled with stories.
