Shawn Mattiuz, Manager, Hapuku Fish Shop
Shawn had been cooking in restaurants for 14 years before he started managing Hapuku Fish Shop six years ago. And after 20 years, he can confidently say that his main reasons for enjoying the food service industry have to with making people feel good. “When I was a cook, it was all about the reaction of people eating really good food, how grateful they were, and the nourishing of their soul. As a retailer, it’s about helping people make good choices and making people smile.” And when it comes to seafood, his favorite part of his job is “helping non-fish eaters eat fish.” Here are some of Shawn’s favorite recipes:
Favorite go-to recipe: Baked Arctic Char
Slice fennel and sweet onion, combine with dry white wine and olive oil, and place in a glass baking dish. Lay fillets on top, cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Serve with brown rice and sautéed kale with garlic and chili flakes.
Favorite recipe for impressing others: Shawn’s gumbo (available at Hapuku!) or Alaskan Halibut with brown butter vinaigrette
Favorite seafood right now (because it changes): Sablefish, marinated in our soy-ginger marinade, baked, served with forbidden rice and a mixture of caramelized onions and shitake mushrooms on top.
Shawn spends most of his time with his wife, Alexa, and his 18-month-old daughter, Soleil. “Our time is mostly filled with hikes, parks and sandboxes,” says Shawn.
Jermaine Laveine, Supervisor, Hapuku Fish Shop
Jermaine, a veteran of Hapuku Fish Shop, has been a fishmonger for four years now. He must be a natural because he says he truly enjoys filleting fish; it requires a special skill to fillet the whole fish, but it is very calming to him. And this calming effect is evident in Jermaine’s relationships with his customers, which he has built up over the years. “I know them by name and I treat them like a friend rather than a customer.” Life outside of work is a little more hectic for Jermaine, with a one-year-old daughter, Haley, and energetic four-year-old son, Jermaine, to chase after. So when he’s not spending time with his wife and kids, he catches up on sports (he’s a Niners fan!) or goes fishing in Stockton or Sacramento with his father-in-law. Here are some of Jermaine’s favorite recipes:
Favorite go-to seafood recipe: Marinate sole in salt, pepper, lemon, olive oil and butter, then simply sauté in a pan.
Favorite recipe for impressing others: Alaskan halibut coated with mustard sauce, rolled in crushed almonds and pan seared in crab butter.
Favorite seafood: “Sanddabs, because you can do so many different things with them. They’re great breaded and friend, or try baking them with fennel, onions and white pine nuts. I love the texture: it is light, flakey and a little sweet.”
