Modern Lifestyles WINTER 2016 | Page 55

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. ModernLifestyles.tv 53