Get Hooked on Local Seafood

By now, most of us know that it is a good idea to include seafood in our diets. As a matter of fact, the 2015-20 Dietary Guidelines for American recommends including at least two servings of seafood per week.

So, if you are like most families here in Northeast Florida, you go to your local grocery store or big box seller like Costco and buy frozen seafood such as mahi, salmon, cod, or shrimp. Although they are convenient, these, products generally come from such far places such as Norway, Thailand, and the Caribbean.

For a change of pace, try some great fresh local seafood from Kyle’s Seafood Market in St. Augustine. On the day I went, they had a large selection of locally caught fish such as grouper, tuna, swordfish, flounder, and mahi. In addition, Kyle’s had a large selection of homemade soups such as lobster bisque, Minorcan clam chowder and conch chowder. While I was there, I sampled a fresh batch of New England clam chowder. It was so savory and flavorful that I bought two pints for dinner that night. The owner, Michael Kyle, also makes his own tartar sauce, crab meat stuffing, garlic herb butter, and sweet red pepper butter.

In addition to the clam chowder, I bought some local tuna and grouper. For dinner, I seasoned and seared the tuna in an iron skillet and served it on a bed of sautéed spinach with slices of baked butternut squash (all in less than 30 minutes). Of course, we started off with the soup before going to the main course. Later in the week, I plan on making blackened grouper using Spanish smoked paprika.

Remember, for some great fresh local seafood and for a variety of homemade soups, sauces, and condiments, try Kyle’s Seafood Market at 3874 North Ponce de Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine.