nourish the beast

6.26.2010

With oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, the general consensus is that people's way of life has been eradicated as a result of this ecological disaster. In pondering that fact, it strikes me how much we take for granted the abundance of local seafood here in Northeast Florida. So I've vowed to make Summer 2010 my Seafood Summer - in part because I love the stuff, can't get enough, and in part to express my solidarity to those coastal residents in the areas immediately affected by the BP oil spill. Let's start at the water's edge.

Safe Harbor Seafood Market & Restaurant

Mayport Florida is a little fishing village on the St Johns River, where the river meets the sea, across from Fort George Island. It seems like a world apart, but its just a few short miles from the busy Port of Jacksonville.

Home to Naval Station Mayport and a US Coastguard station, quiet little Mayport also boasts some of the best shrimp, crab, fish and more - all of which can be purchased raw, steamed, broiled, grilled, blackened, or fried!

When the Food Network's Guy Fieri visited Singleton's Seafood Shack in Mayport, he missed the boat, in my humble opinion. Sure, Singletons is an institution, but for my money, and my taste, when I go to Mayport, I'm headed to Safe Harbor Seafood Market and Restaurant.

Grouper, Shrimp, Clam Strips, Soft Shell Crab, you name it, they've got it.

In summer I take most Fridays off from making the world a better place at my day job.

My favorite way to launch into the long weekend is to drive out to Mayport and hang out on the deck at Safe Harbor, sipping a cold beer and noshing on fresh fish and seafood.

There can be quite a wait for a cooked meal, but its always worth it. Chill out. Get Nautical.

Then once you've finished your lunch, stock up on tender sweet Mayport shrimp and whatever other delicacies look amazing, and head home to cook up some more seafood faves! Tonight for me that means Thai Green Curry with Mayport Shrimp.

See you next Friday!