By Sharyn Brunk
Ever wonder where to shop for fresh seafood? As a great fish lover, I want to share my tried-and-true markets. Visit the Fresh Market on Mon., Wed., or Fri., and Whole Foods on Tues., Wed., Fri., or Sun.
And here are some tips for picking the freshest fish:
- Always ask when a specific fish came into the store. If the staff says they don’t know, ask them to find someone who does. If what is in the case didn’t come in fresh the day you are there, ask if they have any in the back that did come in.
- The fish should glisten.
- It’s best if the butcher cuts your piece off the whole filet.
- For canned crabmeat—quality and value—you can’t go wrong with Costco on Tyvola Road off I-77 in Charlotte. Go with a friend, take a cooler, and stock up on produce, meats, fish, snacks, household supplies, and seasonal items. There will be a Costco opening on Brawley School Rd. sometime in the near future. They have already broken ground.
Here are four other spots you may not know about.
Clean Catch Fish Market
2820 Selwyn Ave., Charlotte
This full-service fish market offers the very best quality seafood from fisheries, producers, and processors that have been certified against the leading standards for product quality, eco-labeling, sustainability, organic, traceability, and responsible fishing. Fish arrive daily and vary day-to-day depending on seasonality and availability. You can get sushi-grade fish here, and it’s a great place to shop for a special occasion. Pricey.
The Shrimp Connection
This fish stand is operational Fri. and Sat., starting at 1pm. The seafood is brought in from the coast or from specific parts of the country. The variety is extensive. Sign up for its email and you will know the offering each week, and you can special order. Located within Josh’s Farmers’ Market (189 Williamson Rd., Mooresville), it offers a huge selection of fruits and vegetables, some meats, dairy, baked goods, and specialty products. The vegetables are outstanding and very reasonably priced. Some items I particularly enjoy are the butternut squash, yellow tomatoes, hydroponic Romaine lettuce, yellow squash, and the NC mountain-grown sweet corn.
The market will continue to operate post Halloween, Mon.-Thurs., 9am-5:30pm; Fri., and Sat., 9am-5:30pm; and Sun., 10am-5pm until the switch is made to Christmas season on Black Friday. The tree lot will be open 9am–8pm, 7 days a week.
Super G Mart
7323 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte
What an extravaganza! This is a massive international market, with emphasis on Asian ingredients, and a huge selection of seafood. The fish is not marked with dates because there are hundreds of whole fish in the case. Whole fresh fish on ice keeps quite a while, and the butcher can cut your piece off the whole fish. You can grab lunch there in the food court.
Bradford Country Store
15915 Davidson-Concord Route
Just a bit east of I-77 off Exit 25, traveling on Route 73 (Sam Furr)
An excellent selection of fresh seafood is brought in from the coast on Thursday, usually around 11am, and is sold through Saturday.
I would be remiss if I did not share one item with you . . . Have you tried Joe Fish Casual Seafood Restaurant in Mooresville? Rated 4.5 on Trip Advisor, Joe Fish has everything on its menu—nothing super fancy, but expect a creative, flavorful, large meal. True New England seafood. Open Tues.-Wed., 4-9pm and Thurs.-Sat., 11:30am-9pm. There’s a special each day. Tuesday is discounted shrimp dishes; Thursday is double lobster tails. It’s crowded virtually anytime you go, but the wait is never too long. Joe Fish has a full bar and some extra patio seating. It is located off I-77, Exit 36. Go west on River Hwy.—then look for the first shopping plaza on your right, behind a gas station, set back from the road. Enjoy!
Sharyn Brunk is a North Carolina Real Estate Broker with Helen Adams Realty. She can be reached at www.sharynbrunk.com or (919) 605-5246.
