Catalina Offshore Products....and my friend Tommy Gommes

(Seared Spot Prawns)

The other day I was shopping at Ranch 99 (Asian super market) and saw a line of people waiting for awful looking seafood and all I wanted to do was scream “RUN NOT WALK TO CATALINA OFFSHORE PRODUCTS”!!


I am guessing many of those people had never heard of Catalina Offshore Products, as many who read this blog may not be aware of them either. I have decided to make sure everyone knows about this place and just how amazing it is.

Catalina Offshore Products is a warehouse located just off Morena Blvd. There is no display cases or show rooms but what they do have is high-quality, sushi-grade fish, fresh seafood,lobster,and uni.

(Pank Parmesan Crusted Scallops)

(Grouper Seared in Rendered Lardo)

(New England Style Lobster and Shrimp Roll...from my Collaberation Kitchen event)

 Tommy Gommes says it best “ If your not sure about seafood, come see me and we can make it easy for you to understand. While we are NOT a full retail fish shop, we are a seafood wholesale house and prices go up and down with market value. Sometimes swordfish, while fresh is $5 a pound and other times its $11.00 or more. So its best to call in.”



(Bluefun Tuna Carpacio with Wasabi Yuzu Sauce and Radish Sprouts)

You can find more info in a great article from Caron Golden.


Catalina in also extremely eco-friendly (there building is 90% powered by solar power) and sustainable. I really think this is what makes them unique. You get the all the peace of mind and great quality without paying extra for it!

They’ve been around for more than 25 years, beginning when founder Dave Rudie, a professional sea urchin (uni) diver, and his wife Kathy started processing the uni and seaweed he caught.

Even if you have never heard of Catalina Offshore, you may have heard of Tommy Gommes. Tommy is the head of public relations, but I would say it is more like “6 degree of Tommy Gommes”. Everyone on in this city seems to know and love him (especially me)! You can read all about him in recent articles on Sign on San Diego or San Diego Magazines “Top 50 people to Watch”.

Gomes also started a tasting event with local chefs called Collaboration Kitchen at Catalina and partnering with Specialty Produce. The once-a-month program brings together the best chefs in the area for seafood cooking demonstrations and a 5- to 7-course tasting meal that raises money for the Monarch School for homeless and at-risk kids. And I am so proud to say I have been at part of these amazing events, I am already planning my return in 2011.

You can call them at (619) 297-9797, find them online , watch them on Youtube or find them on facebook and twitter.

Become a member!! Creating an account on the Catalina webaite takes a couple minutes and gets you access to discounts up to 20% on seafood, a monthly newsletter with specials, new products, recipes, cooking tips, and free Catalina merchandise with qualifying orders and more!

Catalina Offshore Products is located at 5202 Lovelock St. San Diego, CA 92110. Hours for walk-ins are from

8am to 2pm Monday thru Friday
8am to 12:00 noon on Saturdays
CLOSED SUNDAY

Best to call ahead and ask what is new, place your order for pick up, “YES” you can trust Tommy to pick good fish :)

More picture of some of my amazing meals from Catalina

(Octopus Ceviche)

(Spicy Tuna Roll with Masago)

 

Rancho Santa Fe Farmers Market

With the sun finally shining and the holidays over farmers markets are in full swing again! With so many amazing markets to choice from I thought I would profile one of the our wonderful local markets;

Rancho Santa Fe Farmers Market.
Where:

16079 San Dieguito Rd.
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

Hours:
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Every Sunday Morning

The Rancho Santa Fe Farmers Market opened its’ “doors” for the first time on May 2, 2010 in the parking lot of the Del Rayo Village Center in Rancho Santa Fe. The market is sponsored by the Helen Woodward Animal Center who provides volunteers every Sunday to introduce adoptable pets from the center to market customers. As it is Rancho Santa Fe there are a few perks that you would not find at your other markets, like...

• VEGGIE VALET – If you’d like to run errands in the center or have brunch after shopping in the marketplace…we can hold on to your market “haul”, keep your package(s) cool, and pass them over to you as you pull right up to the info booth on your way out.

• BIKE VALET – Park your bike and our attendants will watch it while you shop… no need to lock it up.

You can  also choose from some of your farmers markets staples vegetables, greens, herbs, fruits

farm fresh eggs, artisanal breads

fresh cut flowers, oils, honeys & jams, gourmet tamales, fresh fish, grass fed meats, fresh pasta, cheeses, freshly roasted coffee beans, grass fed pasturized poultry, nuts, artisanal chocolate, amazing local seafood (including oysters on the half shell, ceviche and more)

Still not sure if you will love this market, take a tour with one of my favorite chefs (Paul McCabe from 1540, if you have not been to eat his amazing food you should run not walk to the L' Auberge Hotel in Del Mar).

Jan and Feb Cooking Classes at Torrey Pines High School and La Costa Canyon High School

~~~Chef Jenn's Upcoming Hands on Cooking Classes~~~


COOKING FOR BEGINNERS (click to sign up for class)
Wednesday 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm; 3 sessions starting January 5, 2011, ending January 19, 2011 at Torrey Pines High School

Are you lacking confidence in the kitchen? Do all the choices in the grocery store make yor head spin? This basic series will give you what it takes to make simple and tasty dishes (like a perfect steak, whole roasted chicken, mac and cheese, and more).
Tuition: $126.00



HEALTHY COOKING WORKSHOP (click to sign up for class)
Thursday 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm; 3 sessions starting January 6, 2011, ending January 20, 2011 at La Costa Canyon High School


If you're like me and you love flavorful, satisfying food but want it to be healthy and good for you, then you will love this class. You'll learn what it takes to make creative and tasty meals. Come try some of the great new recipes-some with bold new flavors, just like you would have at a spa.
Tuition: $126.00

To sign up online go to www.sdadulted.com

And more to come

Healthy Caribbean Delights 02/02/2011
Cooking For Foodies Part 1 02/03/2011
Caribbean Delights 03/02/2011
Cooking For Foodies Part 2 03/03/2011



For any other questions please contact Chef Jenn at (858) 212- 9054
or follow me on twitter Chef_Jenn