I have to admit to being a snob when it comes to fresh seafood.  I grew up on the coast of Maine and my family bought seafood from Harbor Fish Market (harborfish.com) on the wharves of Portland, Maine. Whenever I go home it is a joy to see the pristine seafood that Mainers take for granted on a daily basis. I love seafood.  It is hands down one of my favorite things to eat.  From cod cheeks to lobster and uni, I enjoy it all.  I try to always eat sustainably raised and local fish and seafood.  The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers valuable information about this topic on its ‘seafood watch’ list found at http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch.     Here in California, I initially found it difficult to find really fresh seafood.  Then I found out about Cook’s.  Cook’s Seafood (cooksseafood.com) is located in Menlo Park and has the freshest fish in the San Francisco Bay Area.  My second favorite—and it’s only second because it is in the East Bay, is the Monterey Fish Market in Berkeley. Cook’s has been open since 1928. The building is divided into two parts—the fish market and the restaurant.  The restaurant has a simple menu, but offers excellent fish ‘n chips among other things. The staff in the fish market is extremely knowledgeable and friendly.  I don’t buy fish anywhere else.  I consider fish a specialty item and I feel that  big grocery stores do not give enough attention to the seafood department. When I walk into a grocery store and can smell the fish department I always take it as a sign to stay way!   Fresh fish will never smell ‘fishy’.  If you are buying a piece of fish, it should always be firm—not mushy.   If you are buying a whole fish, look for clear and shiny eyes.   If you are on the peninsula and are in the mood for seafood, or simple but well executed fish and chips, make sure to go to Cook’s.