If 99 Ranch Market is the center all things Chinese in Clairemont Mesa; then Seafood City is the center for all things Filipino in National City. I think I’ve been to alot of Markets recently!
After breakfast at Zarlitos this past Friday, the Missus had requested that I drop by Seafood City, and pick up some "Native Delight"????
Prima Toast is her latest obsession, I guess Haw Flakes are out! But she didn’t want just the brand she’s been buying, she wanted a "variety". And we all know, we don’t mess around with the cravings of the Missus! But all I could find was 1 other brand, so I picked that up!
I thought about picking up some Sky Flakes:
But I already had some, and they last forever if you don’t open them.
Doesn’t the "Family Pack" Longanisa look good!
Or maybe the boneless Daing (Milkfish):
Fried up, dipped into garlic and vinegar; this is one of the Missus’s favorites. Don’t forget the rice!
Actually, Seafood City has probably the busiest seafood department in San Diego. What you can do is select your fish from the counter, or the almost endless isle of fish, BTW doesn’t this guy look like he’s doing "something" in the fish isle?
Bring it to the counter, take a number, and they’ll announce the number over the loudspeaker when your fish is ready. And this place is cranking! When I entered I heard number 82, when I left about 30 minutes later, they were already on number 136! On a Friday morning no less. But the really entertaining thing is just hanging out listening to the fish guy on the microphone.
I guess it must be a pretty boring job, calling out numbers and lining up the endless red/pink bags on the counter. So the "announcer" has to keep it lively. So you’ll hear stuff like, "pretty girl, num-ber 92, pretty girl come see meeeeee", "Lo-laaa, Lo-laaa, number 105, you have dinner", "handsome, Mister handsome, number 123", or my favorite of the day; "number 85, number 85, come get it, your fish is going to swim awaaay soon"! Always cracks me up!
Seafood City does a pretty good job merchandising; you see on the way to the cashier, you always pass the Ice Cream:
Talk about needing self control! I got out with 3 packages Pamana Prima Toast, and 1 package Barrio Fiesta Prima Toast, about 7 bucks total….
If there’s one thing I’d wish for Seafood City, it would be that the Cashiers would have the levity of the guy I deem the "Seafood Announcer". I’ve never ever seen one smile. Most of the time, they stare off stonily into the distance. In fact, if there was a "stare down" between the 99 Ranch Market cashiers, and the Seafood City cashiers; Seafood City would win going away…..
Seafood City
1420 E Plaza Blvd
National City, CA 91950