Fisherman’s Wharf at Steveston Village

I wouldn’t exactly say I’m a morning person, but I prefer to sleep early and wake up early. It makes me feel more productive.

Unless it’s the weekend.

This past Saturday, my mom asked me to driver her to the Fisherman’s wharf at Steveston Village to see the day’s catch. She and my dad usually go together but my dad had a business appointment to deal with in Burnaby. I didn’t want to go, mainly because I had things to take care of, but I thought of it as an opportunity to expand my foodie perspective. Chefs work with suppliers to get the best and freshest ingredients from the farm or the sea or wherever to their kitchens. For me, seeing the back-end operations outside the kitchen could bring more insight into the Chef’s thinking and philosophy.

Or not.

But it’s still a new experience for me hence I decided to go.

Entrance to the Wharf

 

Tons of hardworking fishermen/women on a cloudy Saturday morning

I was told that it’s a lot busier earlier in the morning (we got there at 11 am) and the fishermen are only there during weekends. It’s especially busier during the summer months. There are a lot more fishermen and it’s super crowded.

Rows of boats and dedicated fishermen

How much fresher can this get? One of them actually flinched up and down as I snapped this photo.

Up close

A pound of fresh shrimp costs $4. You might get a bargain at Safeway or wherever, but it ain’t gonna be as fresh as these bad boys.

We actually had a huge shrimp dish that evening. It was cooked in a broth with tomatoes, onions, garlic, spinach, ginger, tamarind and longhorn peppers (which added a huge kick). The shrimp was so soft, literally melting in my mouth. That’s how fresh it was.

I have much more respect for these fishermen who get up in the wee hours of the morning to sell their catch. While my ass is still snoring in bed I’m still in the middle of my REM cycle, these guys are already working hard.