By Sandi Masori
SAN DIEGO — One of the big benefits of living in San Diego, besides our mostly perfect weather, is the abundant supply of fresh seafood. While we have a lot of fish markets in town, Tunaville on the harbor really takes it to the next level, with events and education to help you get the very best and “know the source”.
Recently I had the opportunity to attend a tuna and salmon sashimi tasting event. Owner Tommy Gomes, who you may recognize as The Fishmonger from TV if you watch the Outdoor channel, partnered with Sieko sushi and Sushi on a Roll to bring some great tasting fish bites to the harbor.
Outside the market were a couple of tents where they handed out samples of some salmon from New Zealand, and some beautifully dark red tuna. It was mighty tasty.
There’s always something good to taste inside Tunaville as well, even when there are no special events. They are very liberal with the samples from the case where they have both raw fish, smoked fish and prepared salads to purchase. They usually also have something new and local being sampled on the board. The day I was there it was dry aged bluefin tuna. A new experience for me as I have had smoked fish before, but never dry aged.
Besides the fresh fish case, they also carry a good selection of tinned fish if you like that. Far beyond the usual sardines and tuna.
Gomes opened Tunaville only two years ago in its current location, but has spent his entire life fishing. His tv show The Fishmonger is currently in its fourth season.
Tunaville is located at 4904 North Harbor Drive, Suite 102 and is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. When you go there you will find the staff to be very patient and willing to teach you all about the delicacies in the case.
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Sandi Masori is a restaurant and theater reviewer for San Diego Jewish World
New Zealand produces salmon for export and local market from locations in the south Island. Most is farmed in the Malbrough Sounds near the north eastern inter island ferry town of Picton and the city of Nelson to the west. Salmon is also farmed on the east coast of the south Island. Those fish farms are mostly river based.
The most common fish found in our rivers are Rainbow and Brown trout.
I can buy fresh salmon in my local supermarket every day.