Somehow, while living in Charleston's East End, I never made it to Joe's Fish Market. Don't ask me how. I'm an idiot. BUT, I decided to rectify this situation on a recent visit.

Joe's Fish Market is the place for fresh seafood in Charleston. Salmon? Scallops? Shrimp? Yes, please. They also have soup, specifically their Yugoslavian fish stew.



Despite it being, oh, I don't know, close to 90 degrees on this day and having just eating breakfast, I was determined to try this fish stew. I ordered a pint of the stuff. Owners say customers order about 20 quarts a day of the spicy, tomato-based soup - but has sold as many of 70 quarts in a day.



The soup is made with scrap pieces of fish. That means when customers like fish fillets to be the exact same size, there are leftover pieces of tuna, salmon and other fish - good quality fish. Now, this doesn't mean it's not fresh. Everything is fresh and is in the store no longer than two days. The store doesn't even have a freezer. It simply means it is the "extra." Owners adapted a recipe and a legend was born in the Yugoslavian fish stew.



The stew contains onions, celery, garlic, basil, parsley, pepper, oregano, cayenne, white pepper, chicken stock, some sugar, cans of tomatoes, red hot, tabasco and worcestershire sauce - plus all the good stuff like shrimp, scallops, salmon and tuna.

And it's delicious. It's a bit spicy, but it's incredibly flavorful. I kept fishing for giant scallops and shrimp. There's a ton in here! They're super moist and not overcooked. Have you tried this stew? And can you bring some to Morgantown for me? :) A-mazing.

Grade: A