By Camille Sperrazza
The medical community has made it clear that we should eat more fish. Fish has been praised for reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Some argue that it is “brain food” that makes us smart. Now that we know it’s good for us, we need to know where to shop to find fresh, quality seafood. Welcome to Terminal Wholesale Seafood and Restaurant Supplier (402 E. 83 Street, across from the Brooklyn Terminal Market, 718-209-3900). The seafood there is always fresh because owner Orin Tucker rises at 2:30 a.m. every morning to make the trip to the Fulton Street Fish Market, to bring back the freshest catches of the day. “Freshness is essential,” he says. He uses his 15 years of experience in the business to make selections that will please himself as well as customers. As he tells his employees: “If the fish doesn’t look good enough to put on your dinner table, it’s not good enough for customers.” Tucker hunts for excellent quality, and because he shops directly at the Market, he is able to offer topnotch seafood to consumers at very competitive prices. His facility offers customers all the condiments to go with their fresh fare — items such as tartar sauce, mayonnaise, relish, pepper sauce, rice, canned goods, and flour. It also offers the paper plates, cups, foil pans, and paper towels. All are sold at discounted prices that are nearly equivalent to prices customers would have to pay if they purchased in bulk. For example, Tucker may buy a case of peas for $25, but he allows customers to buy just what they need — perhaps only one or two cans. Yet, he passes along his discounted price. Another advantage of shopping at Terminal Wholesale Seafood and Restaurant Supplier is that the seafood is cleaned at the shop, saving the customer valuable time. “All the fish has to do is go from bag to pot,” says Tucker. “There’s not much in the way of work for the consumer.” This is because the business has high-tech machinery that cleans fish thoroughly. “It’s fast and clean,” says Tucker. When it comes to shrimp, lobster, tail, king crab legs, and frog legs, “We sell the widest variety of these types of fresh and frozen seafood anywhere in Brooklyn,” says Tucker. The seafood comes from “different countries, and is available in all sizes,” he adds. Beside quality seafood and outstanding prices, shopping at the Terminal Wholesale Seafood and Restaurant Supplier is an experience that educates and satisfies consumers. The staff, Tucker notes, is comprised of “the friendliest people.” They know that, “The customer is their livelihood,” so they “treat everyone with respect and courtesy.” In fact, he notes that many customers have complimented Tucker on the way the staff interacts with them. The “educated customers — people who understand good quality” are welcome, says Tucker, because his business will meet their standards. Terminal Wholesale Seafood and Restaurant Supplier has been at its present location for about six months. Previously, it was known as Utica Food Savers, says Tucker. The move to this 10,000 square foot facility makes it very convenient for Brooklyn residents, especially since the Fulton Street Fish Market plans to move to the Bronx this summer. Tucker will travel all the way to the Bronx for the freshest seafood; but Brooklynites need only to shop at his store at East 83 Street to find the same quality fish. The National Heart Foundation now recommends that adults should eat at least two meals that include fish each week. Seafood is not only low in fat, but it contains an oil called omega-3 that keeps arteries healthy. Some experts have said that omega-3 stops clots from forming and helps lower blood pressure. Fish has plenty of calcium, and can help reduce bone-thinning diseases such as osteoporosis. When presented with these “fish facts,” Tucker notes, “The authorities have said it, and I concur.” Shop at Terminal Wholesale Seafood and Restaurant Supplier Mondays through Saturdays, from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
