Buying Seafood

Living many years in Cairns brought the joy of eating from Neptune’s bounty – a feast of the freshest seafood straight from the boats (or from your own boat), the nightly haul of mudcrabs sold live and trussed at Rusty’s Market the next morning, a raw slab of tuna, red and glistening, cut straight from the fish to take home for Friday night sashimi. There was never a question about freshness or quality, or whether the produce was from our sparkling waters or imported; everything was fresh, so the consumer could shop on price.

On moving to the Gold Coast, I asked, “Where’s the best priced seafood?”

Of course, that’s always the wrong question. In fact there’s only one question to ask about seafood: “Where’s the best quality, freshest seafood?”  Of course this brings in a couple of variables: availability of local sources and turnover of stock.

Here are a few retailers you might like to try. They have different strengths, so shop around!

Charis Seafoods

371 Marine Parade Labrador, Queensland

Ph: 07 5527 1100 Fax: 07 5527 1022

Open: Mon – Sun 7am – 7pm

http://www.charisseafood.com.au

Partners Salvi Vinaccia and Jim Stamoudis bring lifetimes in the seafood industry across the South Pacific to their joint venture at Charis. The shop has one of the best and most diverse displays of seafood on the coast, top quality and sparkling fresh. It’s one of the few big suppliers who also cook hot seafood to take away. Charis also has a top location, being situated on the Broadwater, so many people take advantage of the tables and chairs outside to eat fish and chips beside the water – the best dining room in the world! There’s only one downside: Charis is popular enough to need a parking station! Many Gold Coasters also give Charis iconic status for fighting the council some years ago for the right to feed the pelicans. For southern GC, a Charis outlet has now been established at Robina Town Centre next to Coles – yes, it’s closer, but not the same as eating at Charis: Seafoods on the Broadwater.

Gold Coast Fishermen’s Co-Operative

168 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, Queensland 4217

Ph: 07 5528 5783 Fax: 07 5532 6217 Mob: 0439 675 926

Open: Mon – Sun 7am until sold out

http://www.freshestcatch.com.au

The trawlers are our favourite place to buy fresh prawns. First established in 1970, the Gold Coast Fishermen’s Co-Operative was one of the first developments on the Spit at Main Beach. Despite some very public tangles with council, they are still there, located not far from the luxurious Palazzo Versace. Every night prawn trawlers, long line fishing vessels and a spanner crab boat operate off the Gold Coast, returning with a fresh catch to sell direct to the public from 7am. With great anticipation, we’ve sometimes driven to the Spit, only to find that it had been too windy to fish and the gates were closed. But you can find out about the daily catch available without leaving home. Check out their blog for news of the catch, prices, upcoming events and even recipes: http://freshestcatch.blogspot.com/

Harbour Seafood Market

Olsen Avenue, Labrador, Queensland

Ph: 07 5529 2500

Open: Mon – Sun 8am – 6pm

http://www.harbourseafoodmarket.com.au

info@harbourseafoodmarket.com.au

Harbour Seafood Market, located diagonally opposite Harbourtown, is owned by Todd and Caroline Farmer. Well known for their oysters, freshly shucked daily, there’s a great range of fresh seafood including hot food available, cooked while you wait.

Pacifica Trading

Shop 34/137 Scotsdale Drive, Robina, Queensland 4226

Ph: 07 5580 8572

Open: Mon – Sat 8am – 7pm

http://pacificatrading.com.au

Carmelo and Pauline Comi have made a huge investment in Gold Coast seafood with the opening of Pacifica Trading in late 2010, an imposing building not far from the new Varsity railway station. The retail outlet is situated on the ground floor, with wholesale offices above. The seafood displays are spotlessly clean and fresh and you’ll be served by courteous staff. Unfortunately, the hot cooked seafood section will close at the end of January 2012.

Patton’s

1 Resources Court (Cnr Distribution Avenue), Ashmore QLD 4214

Ph: 07 5597 6188 Fax: 07 5597 6298

Open: Mon – Fri 5am – 6pm; Sun 4am – 4pm

Email: ashmore@biggun.com.au

Patton’s have been in the meat industry in Queensland for over 20 years. Their Ashmore warehouse is well known for fruit and vegies, bulk meat and dairy products. A new seafood display has been installed over the Christmas 2011 period and the fish displays look really vibrant, clean and fresh! Patton’s seafood is also keenly priced. For us there’s one great reason to shop there: salmon. With eyes glistening and pink flesh shimmering it beckons ‘Come, take me home!’ Regularly advertised as a weekend special at $15.99 per kilo for the whole fish, it’s an Omega 3 laden bargain! With a smile and a razor sharp blade, one of the obliging fishmongers will scale your fish while you wait. ‘Fillets or cutlets?’ That’s the only question. Then you’re set with fresh fish for dinner and the rest of the fish in portion sized freezer bags, frozen for a later date.

Peter’s Fish Market

120 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, Queensland 4217

Ph: 07 5591 7747

Open: Mon – Sun 9am – 7.30pm

http://www.petersfish.com.au/

Email: shop@petersfish.com.au

Another iconic seafood distributor, the smiling bearded face is known all over the coast. One of the few places where you can arrive on a boat or jetski to enjoy fish and chips, Peter’s is a favourite haunt of many Gold Coasters. Whether you take your seafood away to cook at home of enjoy a feast of cold and cooked seafood at the boat-shaped tables outside, the fish is always fresh and prawns straight off the trawlers berthed behind the shop.

Reef Seafood and Sushi

Ferry Road Markets, Ferry Rd., Southport, Queensland, 4215

Ph: 07 5528 4477

http://www.reefseafood.com.au/

Email: reefseafood@bigpond.com

Located in the trendy Ferry Road Markets, Reef’s tantalising seafood display is complemented by arguably the most exquisite sushi and sashimi on the Gold Coast, prepared by Japanese chef Shigeki Uno. Priced according to its quality and location, it’s a convenient place to buy top quality seafood to take home, or seafood to enjoy with friends at this upmarket shopping venue.

Seafresh Pacific

Unit 3, 1 Flint Court, Burleigh Heads, Queensland 4220

Ph: 07 5522 1221 Fax: 07 5522 0221

Hours: Mon – Sat 9am – 6pm; Sun 10am – 4pm

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seafresh-Pacific/215517875170082

Email: accounts@seafreshpacific.com.au

Seafresh has been one of the reliable seafood providers on the Southern end of the coast. Their business is about 80% wholesale to restaurants and 20% retail. New owners, Mike Farrell and Norm Hunt took over Seafresh about six months ago. Because of their background in the trawling industry, they push Australian product. All oysters are shucked on site, crabs come from Tweed, all retail prawns are local and fish fresh (not defrosted). I spied Prawn Gyoza in the freezer – Now that’s a thought! There’s even a retail home delivery service available, or you can shop from their Westfield store.

Tidal

610 Oxley Drive, Biggera Waters, Queensland 4216

Hours: Sun – Wed 11am – 6pm; Thurs – Sat 11am – 9pm

Ph: 07 5500 9441

A newcomer on the scene, Tidal, at Harbourside Market selects the finest top quality fresh ocean and live seafood, including coral trout, lobsters, vongole, red claw and mud crabs straight from the live tanks. There is fresh oyster shucking daily on-site with an adjoining restaurant offering you the choice of having your seafood cooked to order. A take-away menu is also available.

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