The Beginning!

I'm still in the enchantment stage of Julia Child's movie. I woke up inspired to start a seafood cooking blog. It's now created, titled Let's Cook Seafood! If you're reading this, then you are here!

I made a dramatic career change about 4 years ago. I left nonprofit work and searched Craigslist for "Food and Beverage" jobs. I stumbled upon a seafood counter management position and knew that I was destined. I applied and got the job! I worked intimately with the fresh fish every day. We brought in fish fresh off the boats of Fiji, Hawaii, California, Mexico, Maine, Alaska, Scotland, Australia and the Mediterranean Sea. Ono, Opah, Salmons, Mahi, Halibut, Ahi, Yellowtail, Swordfish, Escolar, Snappers, Sea Bass, Bronzini, Trout, Catfish, Clams, Mussels, Oysters, Caviar, Shrimp, Squid, Calamari, Lobsters, Crabs, Anchovies, and the list goes on and on. What an amazing education I received!

I now sell fish and shellfish wholesale to fine restaurants and grocery stores in the Santa Barbara CA area representing an excellent, highest quality wholesale seafood company, Central Coast Seafood. based in California just inland from Morro Bay. It's run by an Italian family (Giovanni and Molly Comin) and has been in business for over 30 years. I get to work from home (being that I'm about 2 hours south of Morro Bay) and I get to visit busy chefs and meat purveyors all week. I'm living the dream!

I have learned so much about fish and shellfish and bring it home to my kitchen 3 or 4 nights per week and never get sick of cooking and eating it. I'm always experimenting with new methods, dry rubs, wood chips, foil, no foil, butter, olive oil, sauces, marinades and fresh herbs.

I think some historical background is important: My mom, Colette Piacentini, was born in France (Paris) and my dad is pure blood Italian (Archangelo Piacentini) They raised eight of us in Santa Barbara the European way. Always cooking, and our lives have always been centered around the beach and Mama's kitchen. Mama had me making the salad dressing when I was 6 or 7, and by the time all of us reached junior high, we all knew how to make gravies, sauces, roasts, chickens, vegetables and so on. We always had a fresh salad with dinner, along with good bread, a protein, and of course fresh vegetables that were always delicious. We didn't know that kids were supposed to hate vegetables, or anything cooked in our kitchen, for that matter.

My goal with my Seafood blog is to film my efforts and post them on youtube. I will also supply recipes and methods in writing. So.. when you're wanting to grill Salmon or sear Ahi #1, you will (hopefully) be able to download my recommendations (through my trial and error) along with being able to read/download the recipes.

I'm going to put together a strong team. I'll need Robby Barthelmess and Morgan Maassen. Both are gifted video and still photographers and I have not spoken to either of them about this yet. I'll need my husband Davey to help direct the show and score the music (his original acoustic guitar music will be perfect) and my two children, Erin (Stylist/Hair/Makeup) and Brandon, Editor and Mac pro. I'd like to feature my brother Paul Piacentini, a remarkable chef who grows his own veges, herbs and eggs laid by chickens named after Papa's sisters (Our Italian Aunts: Eda, Olga, Edna, Arrelia, Loucheta, May-Jane, Joanne), along with my niece, Adrianne Piacentini, who graduated from the Culinary Institute in NYC a few years ago for wine and side-dish advice and onion chopping consultation. I'll use my own kitchen, along with Mama's, and we'll have a great time cooking and eating together, as usual!

Bon Appetite,
Theresa