Seafood tips

In a small boat bobbing in the waves between towering offshore windturbines, researchers in Europe’s Baltic Sea reach into the frigid water and remove long lines stretched between the pylons onto which mussels and seaweed are growing.

If your loved one loves seafood, embrace that passion with this year’s Valentine’s Day gift. Aquatic creatures, bivalve inspired fashion, maritime feasts and more all will woo a person whose love language is totally understandable under the sea. Show your Valentine you love them more than all the oceans with these gifts for seafood lovers.

If there’s a better place for seafood in California than the Mendocino Coast, I haven’t found it. And right about now is high season for Mendo’s crown jewel: Dungeness crab.

As I sipped my coffee while watching the sunrise, painted with deep hues of pink and orange, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I glanced over just in time to catch a majestic gray whale breaching in the subdued morning waves of the Pacific Ocean, leaving nothing but white foam in its wake. At that moment, as the birds chirped and neighborhood dogs played below, I felt more at peace than ever before.

Welcome to Where Chefs Eat on Vacation, a column in which chefs tell us what they ate on a recent trip.

Measuring in at just under 6,500 square kilometers, Delaware is the second-smallest of the fifty states—but in spite of its pint-sized stature, this coastal region is home to a massive array of attractions for visitors to enjoy. Incredible seafood, top-tier craft beer, and dazzling wildlife can all be found in abundance across the state, with Sussex County offering all three in one fell swoop. Located roughly thirty minutes south of the capital city of Dover, this sprawling seaside region is a true gem of the Atlantic, serving as the perfect ticket for a truly memorable vacation along the scenic shores of the First State.

In September, a Japanese tourist in Singapore got a nasty shock when her restaurant bill came up to $1,000 after she ordered a chili-crab dish costing about $680. 

From 29th September to 15th October, England’s Seafood FEAST is returning to the English Riviera, in South Devon, for a two week celebration of world-renowned locally caught and landed seafood. A feast for all the senses, over 40 eateries have joined forces to put on an incredible array of experiences and special menus for visitors to enjoy. It’s an opportunity to dine like a local, taste some of the best seafood in the world right where it’s landed, learn about sustainable fishing practices and meet the people who make the festival what it is.

Growing up, I would travel from Argentina — where I'm from — to Galicia in the north of Spain to visit my mom's side of the family. Galicia is on the country's northwest coast and is known for its delicious seafood, which includes grilled octopus, tuna empanadas, and percebes, one of the most expensive kinds of seafood in the world. 

Michael Smith, chef, and co-owner of Prince Edward Island’s The Inn at Bay Fortune, raises a glass of sparkling wine as he welcomes the guests gathered on the front lawn. Behind him, the glassy bay is sparkling pre-sunset and there’s a faint aroma of wood smoke from the array of oysters, salmon and Arctic char tails roasted in the back garden for Oyster Hour just before. A six course menu including seafood chowder, wood fired halibut, smoked beef brisket, hanger steak and vegetables from the garden in artistic preparations is set to be served next in the dining room nearby. This is the hotel’s nightly, in demand FireWorks Feast, an epicurean fantasy and emblem of one of the main attractions of this Atlantic Canada island.

Whether you prefer Cajun-style seafood boils, sushi, or lobster rolls, these seafood restaurants all offer something special.

Australia enacted some of the most strict lockdown restrictions in 2020, which kept any and all tourists out. Then, in February, the country once again opened back up to Americans — just in time for the more comfortable Australian winter temperatures.

Panama City Beach has over 27 miles of white sandy beach. And while that’s undeniably one of the main draws for anyone looking to visit, even people who prefer to stay sand free won’t run out of things to do in town. You can get in touch with nature at Camp Helen State Park, take a deep sea fishing charter trip, stroll along Pier Park boardwalk, and, of course, enjoy lots of delicious seafood at marina restaurants.