A SEAFOOD DINNER WITH THE FRESHEST OF INGREDIENTS
Plus, Riverwalk Development Project in MV moves ahead
Are you in the mood for a romantic seafood dinner with your significant other, but the thought of spending a lot of money to sit under a tent in a parking lot does not hold much appeal? Are you tired of McDonald’s fish sandwiches? You don’t own a boat so you cannot catch your own fish? Well, we think we have found a solution that conveniently answers all these questions.
Catalina Offshore Products, Inc. at 5202 Lovelock Street, near the Napa/Sherman intersection and therefore officially considered the outskirts of Linda Vista is the fish market for you. They are purveyors of very high quality, very fresh seafood, and locally you can walk in or take advantage of curb side pick-up. They also offer many of their products on-line for shipping all over the country. This establishment has been in existence since 1977 and in its present location since 1998. The President, Dave Rudie, recently spent some time with us explaining what they have available, where it comes from, and giving us a tour of the market. This is primarily a fish market, but in addition to every type of local fish you can imagine, they also carry everything you need to make your own sushi, an unbelievable number of seasonings, including a whole counter of different salts, oils, pastas, sauces, and tools for getting at that lobster or oyster.
The main commodity, of course, is fish. Since the time from when the fish is caught, processed, and displayed is short, you can rely on the fish being the freshest you can imagine.
Dave told us they do about 10 - 15% retail business, 25% on-line, 25% restaurants, and about 35% wholesale (sold to stores for resale). He indicated there has been an increase in retail since the pandemic hit. The fish they sell is sushi grade Most of the fish is local from SoCal or Baja, although the salmon comes from different locations.
We had a tour of the establishment that allowed us to see where the fish comes in and is processed until it is put out in the ultra-clean glass cases for sale. We saw abalone, sea urchin (which Dave had just dived for that day), snapper, tuna, opa, wahoo, ahi, rockfish, salmon, eel, octopus, calamari, plus shellfish such as shrimp, scallops, mussels, live lobster and crab. They also sell caviar, crabmeat, and will fillet fish for those who are squeamish about cooking a fish that is looking back at them. We told Dave we don’t eat meat but feel we are in a rut eating the same old standby fish such as salmon, shrimp and tuna, since we are not too familiar with preparing other types of fish. He said it is good to step out of your comfort zone and try different things and suggested their website for recipes which include everything from shark tacos, making sushi rice, scallops with asparagus, and dozens more. There are also many videos, including how to breakdown an opah, how to filet a fish, how to open and prepare sea urchin, and many others.
Although they sell all the makings for sushi, if you would like yours already prepared, a sushi chef is there Thursday-Saturday (10:00 am to 2:00 pm) and they also have fresh ceviche, and poke.
Something for everyone, and so fresh it will make you feel you caught it yourself.
So give this place a try. The prices are very competitive and lower than fish markets I’ve been in. You’ll find a clean, spacious, welcoming place to shop, full of interesting, aesthetically pleasing displays.
The staff are very friendly, and will answer your every question. There was a good amount of foot traffic the day we were there. Everyone was wearing masks and the facility is marked off to ensure social distancing.
Catalina Offshore Products is located off the beaten path, deep in the heart of the Morena district’s industrial area, but right next to Linda Vista. It is certainly worth taking the time to visit this interesting business establishment.
LV Planning Group Gives Okay to Riverwalk Development Project
The Linda Vista Plannning Group (LVPG) recently conducted a scheduled Zoom meeting on the Riverwalk Development Project. The 195-acre Riverwalk Project proposes to replace the existing golf course with a mix of apartments, office space, retail shops and park space between Friars Road and Hotel Circle North in Mission Valley.
The meeting was convened at 5:30 on November 10, with one agenda—voting on the Riverwalk Project which will be brought before the City Council on November 17, 2020. The developer of the project was in attendance as well.
The LVPG subcommittee has been working with the developers of the Riverwalk Project for several years trying to mitigate some of the issues which they thought would effect the Linda Vista community in negative ways. Through hard work and cooperation of both sides, the subcommittee brought before the LVPG a motion to not oppose the project as long as certain contingencies were met. The contingencies are outlined below.
After discussion, the motion carried unanimously.
Motion to not oppose the Riverwalk Development as long as five contingencies are met:
Plan Certainty: The Specific Plan states no more than 4,300 residential units, 152,000 SF retail, 1,000,000 SF commercial;
The developer and its successors will not invoke or adopt plan amendments that increase density and intensity of use;
Affordable Housing: 10% or 430 affordable housing units (65% AMI) built on site, any affordable units for sale (100% AMI) will not diminish the stock of 430 rental units;
On-site residential parking: The project shall provide an average of 1.5 parking spaces per market rate residential unit for residents until a new MTS Trolley Stop is open and fully operational at the Project, and a minimum of 2,865 total parking spaces shall be provided prior to occupancy of the last of the first 3,000 residential units to be occupied in the Project;
Building heights: a cap of seven stories/85’ for all buildings constructed north of the San Diego River; mitigation of visual impacts on Friars Road. Frontage with all structures west of Via Las Cumbres capped at four stories/50’ and structures on a minimum of two lots east of Via Las Cumbres capped at five stories/65’.
Developer rendition of Riverwalk Project
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