by S. Rotan Hale
It’s been a long awaited day and now many fresh fish lovers in this area can breathe a sigh of relief as Three Brothers Fresh Seafood Market opened February 12 to much fanfare.
The new shop at 5524 Williamson Rd. in Lamplighter Mall in northwest is the vision of three brothers who saw the need for a fresh fish and seafood market in this area and rose to the demand.
The store is one of two locations they operate, the other market opened first in Greensboro, NC. Leading the team here locally is owner/operator Christopher Gomez, 29 who came to the U.S. in 2011. He along with his two partners Javier Chilel, 21 and 50 year-old Victor Rendon all hail from the far-off mountainous regions of Guatemala in Central America. The well-equipped team has been working together in the seafood business for 15 years.
Chris, the good natured manager on hand, says they get their fish and other seafood from various suppliers on the east coast, some coming from coastal Virginia outlets, also North Carolina, Florida and wherever they can get the best deal relative to what’s in season.
Step into the market and your eyes (and nose) feast on an impressive and extensive assortment of fresh fish and seafood. Lined up in neatly iced rows are 30 different kinds of fresh fish, scallops, octopus, conch (sea snails), tilapia and more. Among the selections are seafood-eater favorites as: rockfish, red snapper, black bass, trout, mackeral, shark, kingfish and salmon steaks as well as eight different types of shrimp of various sizes and much more.
The market also offers several types of fish unfamiliar to most as bronzini fish, sheep head and pampano or jack fish.
Pampano is a medium large white fish typically found in the warm seas off the Florida coast. Taste-wise it is not a very fishy fish and is very meaty with a single bone system down the middle that’s easily extracted once broiled or fried. Another uncommon variety is buffalo fish which at $5.99 per. lb. was the least expensive (per lb.) of all the fish on hand at the market.
Whatever fish you choose may be purchased whole or head-off and gutted for no additional fee as not everyone knows how to dress a whole fish regardless of size which is certainly an art in itself.
Two large separate bins containing male and female live blue crabs are positioned under one of several sizable tanks at the market. In one tank lobsters roam around while another tank is stocked with live tilapia swimming around waiting for a fish hungry customer to come along.
The market also has snow crab leg clusters and another tank with live (larger) dungeness crabs for all of the crustacean lovers who crave the luscious delight steamed, boiled or in recipies like crab cakes, pasta etc.
No bonafide fish market would ever operate without Old Bay seafood seasoning and of course the market offers an ample supply of containers of various sizes as well as other condiments, breading mixes, cooking oils, hot sauce galore and other international items guaranteed to satisfy the culinary whims of any and all fish and seafood lovers.
Three Brothers Fish Market is open every day from 10am – 8pm. Call: 366-346-6659 for more information and pricing or visit the market at 5524 Williamson Rd., Unit 10 in Lamplighter Mall. Check’em out!!!
