HOT PLATE INTERVIEW #7
WORDS Karol Wilson
Jon Alexis, owner of TJ’s Seafood Market & Grill
shares his insights on winter comfort food.
Q: Winter often means comfort food. What is a
key dish on your menu that you think your customers consider comfort food?
A: Seafood is inherently seasonal in two distinct
ways: species and preparation. Fall and winter
seafood stars include all crabs (dungeness,
stone, king), oysters, and fish like skate and
mahi. Whereas in the spring or summer seafood
dishes tend to be simpler and cooler (ceviche,
simple grilled fish), in the winter seafood dishes
tend to be more comforting like seafood pastas,
breaded/crusted fish and hearty seafood stews
such as Cioppino.
Q: What do you think makes one or two dishes
comfort food? The cheese? The memories of
childhood? Everyone has a different definition
for CF. People in the Florida Keys, for example,
love lots of fish and shrimp.
A: While any dish in any season can be comfort
food if you have great memories associated
with that dish, true winter comfort food literally
warms your belly and is the culinary equivalent
of a cozy blanket. Cioppino is piping hot, your
body temperature raises as the steaming hot
bowl is placed in front of you.
Q: Wine Sales - more reds? What types? I
assume lighter reds or do people stick with
white?
A: Of course in the seafood world we sell more
white than “average”, but in the colder months
people definitely order more reds. To take the
mystery out of what reds can go with seafood,
we specifically list “fish friendly reds” on our
wine list. PS Yes, you can drink reds with seafood in the warm months, too.
Q: Your restaurant in one sentence.
A: TJ’s Seafood Market & Grill is a casual seafood
driven restaurant. Casual, coastal, fresh.
TJ’s Seafood Market & Grill
Casual. Coastal. Fresh.
www.tjsseafood.com
Two Locations:
TJ’s Preston Royal
6025 Royal Lane, #110
214-691-2369
TJ’s HP/ Oak Lawn
4212 Oak Lawn
214-219-3474
Q: What do YOU consider comfort food.? What
do you make at home for yourself and/or family?
A: Nothing says EASY comfort at home like a
steaming bowl of mussels with a rich cream
based broth. They can be made in less than 10
min so you can get right back under the blanket
by the fire with a fragrant rich bowl of seafood
comfort on your lap.
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