Holiday entertaining ideas - seafood makes it special

When we entertain over the holidays, we generally start off the party with sparkling wine -- there's just something extra festive about a sparkler. And it goes great with seafood appetizers, like cooked shrimp or our family favorite, oysters on the half shell. If you're having a big party, consider setting up an oyster bar, and find some young person who is willing to sit and open oysters for an hour. It's a great way to meet virtually everyone at the party, and there's an easy to follow video on our website that teaches how to open an oyster, Click Here for "How to Shuck and Oyster."
     If you're having a cocktail party, we have many seafood and non-seafood things that are easy to

serve. Our seafood spreads (Smoked Salmon, Smoked Whitefish, Shrimp or Crab Blend) need nothing more than a bowl and some crackers, our various smoked fish require some toothpicks or

crackers, our party trays require nothing more than a table to put them on.
     Vegetarians on your guest list? Try some of our pesto on toast points -- lightly toast some bread, then heat up your broiler. Cut the crusts off the toast, spread with pesto (various choices: Sun Dried Tomato, Artichoke, Poblano, Arugula etc.), cut into triangles and put under the broiler on a cookie sheet for moments -- serve while still warm.
     We generally have two or three varieties of herring in sauce during the holidays, always popular around New Years, and all you add is crackers and toothpicks. We should probably sell toothpicks.
     For dinner parties, we have our elegant fresh salmon entrees, Papaillotes (perfect for Christmas Eve or Christmas day - already gift wrapped!), Salmon Cozies (wrapped in puff pastry) and Stuffed Salmon Fillets - when you place an order, we make them up just for you. We can also order in something really special for you, such as genuine Dover sole or French turbot, as long as you're willing to pay the high price these wonderful fish command these days. French turbot is my all time favorite fish, and I was thrilled to be able to get it at a reasonable price in Italy two years ago. It's getting it from there to here that costs so much.
     For a more casual party, where everyone is willing to eat with their hands, there's nothing better than live lobsters, crab legs (already cooked, just thaw and warm), or lobster tails. If you click on the link above for oyster shucking directions, you'll also see our videos on cooking lobster tail and warming up king crab legs. All of these go well with melted herb butter, or for something lighter, serve with our Lemon Dill Sauce.
   Mussel Recipes. Just add lots of crusty bread and a green salad. I like to add fruit to my salad, and this time of year the clementines are readily available, as well as avocados. I sprinkle a little goat cheese over the top and serve with my homemade vinaigrette. An easy, delicious salad with many seafood dishes.

 Last Christmas eve, we had guests from France and Sweden joining our family meal, and I made a giant pot of mussels in a wine, shallot and cream sauce - we had 8 people and what seemed like way too many mussels - but everyone ate 2 or 3 helpings, and there was not one mussel left. This is a wonderful meal for a crowd, and so easy to do - check out our
     The Italians go quite fish-crazy on Christmas Eve - The Feast of the Seven Fishes is something that many of our customers have done over the years. If you're taking on a challenge such as this, and you need something special, such as salt cod, please call and order in advance -- though we often carry many unusual things, such a lutefisk and whole tube calamari, be sure to call in an order. If there's a run on lutefisk, we want to be able to get more in for our Scandinavian friends. I must say, I've never worked up the courage to try lutefisk. I guess you have to grow up with it.
     Let us know what special items you need for your celebration, and we'll do our best to get it in for you. Ask us for seafood suggestions, wine suggestions, side dish suggestions - we even do dessert. Whether you're a fabulous cook who just wants great ingredients, or an "I can barely turn on the oven" cook, we can help you serve up a fabulous holiday meal for friends, family or just yourself.