Latest news with #NewYorkStateDepartmentofAgricultureandMarkets
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Forbes
Some Of The Finest Seafood In America Swims In Long Island, But Finding Them In Markets And Restaurants Can Be Futile
Last Month New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the Long Island Seafood Trail website, showing off the extraordinary array of seafood that runs along the South Shore from Bay Shore to Montauk (a North Shore guide is also planned). The Trail was created by CCE of Suffolk County's Marine Program, in collaboration with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM), intended to reinvigorate the state's aquaculture and wild-caught seafood industries and strengthen local food systems and 'to showcase our outstanding small businesses, and attract more visitors to this incredible region.' The guide also highlights 20 official locations and other points of interest that sell and serve locally wild-caught, sustainably harvested fish and shellfish. It's an admirable venture, one which identifies 36 species of fish––including bluefish, butterfish, eel, three types of flounder, hake, mahi-mahi, scup, puffer, wahoo, sea robin and more; seven of shellfish, including bay scallops, whelk and blue mussels; and four of crustaceans, including lobster, Jonah crabs, rock crabs and blue crabs. There's only one problem: The majority of those species rarely if ever show up in New York markets or restaurants. It is almost impossible to find tautog, thresher, mackerel, weakfish and most others on menus that list only the same half dozen varieties, including so-called 'Maine lobster,' farm-raised salmon from the Pacific Northwest, farm-raised branzino from the Mediterranean and Dover sole from the North Sea. The shrimp in the shrimp cocktail in all likelihood comes in frozen from Thailand, while the blue crabmeat is packed in Maryland and the mahi mahi shipped in from Hawaii. This neglect of such wonderful seafood from Long Island, including swordfish caught just off Montauk and bluefish that come roaring through the Sound in season, is due not to a lack of supply but to a lack of demand among consumers. Not surprisingly then, the restaurants listed in the new Long Island guide follow suit, with repetitive offerings and menus that barely hint of the region's bounty. The list of seafood at Captain Jack's in Southampton includes fried calamari, crab-stuffed pretzels, fried flounder sandwich, shrimp and grits and codfish oreganata. Bell and Anchor in Sag Harbor serves Montauk pearl oysters and lobster, but the fish entrees are only pan-roasted Scottish salmon, bouillabaisse and flounder. Even the Inlet Seafood Restaurant in Montauk only offers local fluke, golden tilefish and big-eye tuna on its menu. All these and the rest of the guide's recommended restaurants may well have seasonal or nightly specials, but why don't they sell and serve the myriad species listed on the guide's website? One might think that in New York's high-priced seafood restaurants the situation would be different, but it's really not. One might find skate or monkfish or eel or bay scallops on some menus but nothing like the bounty offered by local waters. When the Greek restaurant Estiatorio Milos (now with a dozen branches worldwide) opened in Manhattan twenty years ago, a wide array of the daily catch was arrayed on ice, but they focused on Mediterranean species, which was a whole new concept back then. The paragon of East Coast seafood restaurants is the Grand Central Oyster Bar & restaurant, opened in 1913, whose broadside-size menu is printed several days a week depending on what's available in the market, with 25 different species of seafood any day of the week, from all around the world. Thus, at the moment the offerings include Montauk big-eye tuna, clams from the Long Island Sound, swordfish, mahi mahi, monkfish, sea bass and more, though even those only hint at Long Island's wealth of seafood. I hope, then, that the new Long Island Seafood Trail website will awaken a local pride among restaurateurs and markets to take full advantage of what's in our waters. Otherwise, its list of seafood species is a good reason to go out on a boat into the Sound or along the South coast for the springtime migration of striped bass, black bass, bluefish, porgy, weakfish, scup, hickory shad and tautog all ready to bite.
The Independent
03-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
The future of New York's beloved bodega cats is under threat
New York City's beloved " bodega cats" find themselves in a peculiar predicament: adored by locals but technically outlawed. These feline fixtures, often seen basking in storefront windows or weaving through shelves, are technically violating state law, which prohibits most animals in food-selling establishments. While bodega owners risk fines for harboring their furry companions amongst the groceries, these cats have become integral to the city's character. Their presence adds a touch of homeliness to the bustling urban landscape, offering a moment of quiet connection for customers amidst the city's frenetic pace. This legal gray area recently resurfaced with an online petition garnering over 10,000 signatures, urging the city to protect bodega cat owners from penalties. The petition highlights the clash between regulations and the cherished role these cats play in the city's cultural fabric. The fate of these beloved bodega companions hangs in the balance, awaiting a decision that will determine whether they can continue to roam freely among the aisles. But inspecting bodegas is a state responsibility. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets said in a statement that its goal is to ensure compliance with food safety laws and regulations, though it noted that inspectors aim to offer 'educational resources and corrective action timelines and options' before looking at fines. Many fans argue that the cats actually help keep the stores clean by deterring other ubiquitous New York City creatures, like rodents and cockroaches. However, some shopkeepers say the felines' most important job is bringing in customers. At one bodega in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a fluffy gray and white cat named Mimi has become even more of a star attraction after a customer posted a video of her to TikTok that was viewed over 9 million times. Sydney Miller, the customer who shared the video, said the experience has helped her build a lasting rapport with Mimi's caretaker, Asam Mohammad, a Yemeni immigrant who has only been in the U.S. for a few years. 'Ultimately, the cats are a symbol of community building and the special, unique type of connection that happens in a city like New York,' said Miller, a poet and digital content producer. Mohammad said that one of Mimi's offspring, a white furball named Lily, is also now a big hit with customers. 'He'll play with anybody,' said Mohammad. 'Before, it's Mimi, but now all of them are famous.' Another of Mimi's kittens, Lionel, has taken up residence at a nearby bodega owned by the same family, where he is more than a salesman or a pest control technician. On a recent evening, Mohammad's cousin Ala Najl, who is Muslim, had been fasting for Ramadan since 5 a.m. and had another hour and 17 minutes to go. Feeling a bit restless, Najl decided to play with Lionel. He unrolled his red prayer rug, baiting the muscular cat into a friendly game of tug-of-war. The playful tussle helped distract Najl as he fought through hunger pangs. 'Yes, he helps me for that,' Najl said. At another Greenpoint bodega, shopkeeper Salim Yafai said his cat, Reilly, is so popular that one longtime customer even tried to buy him, asking Yafai for a price. 'I said $10,000. He said $1,000. I said, 'No.'' Yafai said.
Ammon
03-04-2025
- General
- Ammon
Bodega cats make New Yorkers' hearts purr, even if they violate state regulations
Ammon News - New York City's 'bodega cats' are beloved fixtures in the Big Apple — but they're on the wrong side of the law. The convenience store cats that live at many of the city's bodegas and delis look innocent enough, spending their days lounging in sun-soaked storefronts or slinking between shelves of snack foods as they collect friendly pets from customers. Officially, though, state law bars most animals from stores that sell food, with bodega owners potentially facing fines if their tabby is caught curling up near the tins of tuna and toilet paper. The pets' precarious legal position recently came into the spotlight again when a petition circulated online that advocated for the city to shield bodega cat owners from fines, racking up more than 10,000 signatures. But inspecting bodegas is a state responsibility. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets said in a statement that its goal is to ensure compliance with food safety laws and regulations, though it noted that inspectors aim to offer 'educational resources and corrective action timelines and options' before looking at fines. Many fans argue that the cats actually help keep the stores clean by deterring other ubiquitous New York City creatures, like rodents and cockroaches. However, some shopkeepers say the felines' most important job is bringing in customers. At one bodega in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a fluffy gray and white cat named Mimi has become even more of a star attraction after a customer posted a video of her to TikTok that was viewed over 9 million times. Sydney Miller, the customer who shared the video, said the experience has helped her build a lasting rapport with Mimi's caretaker, Asam Mohammad, a Yemeni immigrant who has only been in the U.S. for a few years. 'Ultimately, the cats are a symbol of community building and the special, unique type of connection that happens in a city like New York,' said Miller, a poet and digital content producer. Mohammad said that one of Mimi's offspring, a white furball named Lily, is also now a big hit with customers. 'He'll play with anybody,' said Mohammad. 'Before, it's Mimi, but now all of them are famous.' Another of Mimi's kittens, Lionel, has taken up residence at a nearby bodega owned by the same family, where he is more than a salesman or a pest control technician. On a recent evening, Mohammad's cousin Ala Najl, who is Muslim, had been fasting for Ramadan since 5 a.m. and had another hour and 17 minutes to go. Feeling a bit restless, Najl decided to play with Lionel. He unrolled his red prayer rug, baiting the muscular cat into a friendly game of tug-of-war. The playful tussle helped distract Najl as he fought through hunger pangs. 'Yes, he helps me for that,' Najl said. At another Greenpoint bodega, shopkeeper Salim Yafai said his cat, Reilly, is so popular that one longtime customer even tried to buy him, asking Yafai for a price. 'I said $10,000. He said $1,000. I said, 'No.'' Yafai said. *AP
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bodega cats make New Yorkers' hearts purr, even if they violate state regulations
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City's 'bodega cats' are beloved fixtures in the Big Apple — but they're on the wrong side of the law. The convenience store cats that live at many of the city's bodegas and delis look innocent enough, spending their days lounging in sun-soaked storefronts or slinking between shelves of snack foods as they collect friendly pets from customers. Officially, though, state law bars most animals from stores that sell food, with bodega owners potentially facing fines if their tabby is caught curling up near the tins of tuna and toilet paper. The pets' precarious legal position recently came into the spotlight again when a petition circulated online that advocated for the city to shield bodega cat owners from fines, racking up more than 10,000 signatures. But inspecting bodegas is a state responsibility. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets said in a statement that its goal is to ensure compliance with food safety laws and regulations, though it noted that inspectors aim to offer 'educational resources and corrective action timelines and options' before looking at fines. Many fans argue that the cats actually help keep the stores clean by deterring other ubiquitous New York City creatures, like rodents and cockroaches. However, some shopkeepers say the felines' most important job is bringing in customers. At one bodega in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a fluffy gray and white cat named Mimi has become even more of a star attraction after a customer posted a video of her to TikTok that was viewed over 9 million times. Sydney Miller, the customer who shared the video, said the experience has helped her build a lasting rapport with Mimi's caretaker, Asam Mohammad, a Yemeni immigrant who has only been in the U.S. for a few years. 'Ultimately, the cats are a symbol of community building and the special, unique type of connection that happens in a city like New York,' said Miller, a poet and digital content producer. Mohammad said that one of Mimi's offspring, a white furball named Lily, is also now a big hit with customers. 'He'll play with anybody,' said Mohammad. 'Before, it's Mimi, but now all of them are famous.' Another of Mimi's kittens, Lionel, has taken up residence at a nearby bodega owned by the same family, where he is more than a salesman or a pest control technician. On a recent evening, Mohammad's cousin Ala Najl, who is Muslim, had been fasting for Ramadan since 5 a.m. and had another hour and 17 minutes to go. Feeling a bit restless, Najl decided to play with Lionel. He unrolled his red prayer rug, baiting the muscular cat into a friendly game of tug-of-war. The playful tussle helped distract Najl as he fought through hunger pangs. 'Yes, he helps me for that,' Najl said. At another Greenpoint bodega, shopkeeper Salim Yafai said his cat, Reilly, is so popular that one longtime customer even tried to buy him, asking Yafai for a price. 'I said $10,000. He said $1,000. I said, 'No.'' Yafai said.
The Independent
03-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
Bodega cats make New Yorkers' hearts purr, even if they violate state regulations
New York City's 'bodega cats' are beloved fixtures in the Big Apple — but they're on the wrong side of the law. The convenience store cats that live at many of the city's bodegas and delis look innocent enough, spending their days lounging in sun-soaked storefronts or slinking between shelves of snack foods as they collect friendly pets from customers. Officially, though, state law bars most animals from stores that sell food, with bodega owners potentially facing fines if their tabby is caught curling up near the tins of tuna and toilet paper. The pets' precarious legal position recently came into the spotlight again when a petition circulated online that advocated for the city to shield bodega cat owners from fines, racking up more than 10,000 signatures. But inspecting bodegas is a state responsibility. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets said in a statement that its goal is to ensure compliance with food safety laws and regulations, though it noted that inspectors aim to offer 'educational resources and corrective action timelines and options' before looking at fines. Many fans argue that the cats actually help keep the stores clean by deterring other ubiquitous New York City creatures, like rodents and cockroaches. However, some shopkeepers say the felines' most important job is bringing in customers. At one bodega in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a fluffy gray and white cat named Mimi has become even more of a star attraction after a customer posted a video of her to TikTok that was viewed over 9 million times. Sydney Miller, the customer who shared the video, said the experience has helped her build a lasting rapport with Mimi's caretaker, Asam Mohammad, a Yemeni immigrant who has only been in the U.S. for a few years. 'Ultimately, the cats are a symbol of community building and the special, unique type of connection that happens in a city like New York,' said Miller, a poet and digital content producer. Mohammad said that one of Mimi's offspring, a white furball named Lily, is also now a big hit with customers. 'He'll play with anybody,' said Mohammad. 'Before, it's Mimi, but now all of them are famous.' Another of Mimi's kittens, Lionel, has taken up residence at a nearby bodega owned by the same family, where he is more than a salesman or a pest control technician. On a recent evening, Mohammad's cousin Ala Najl, who is Muslim, had been fasting for Ramadan since 5 a.m. and had another hour and 17 minutes to go. Feeling a bit restless, Najl decided to play with Lionel. He unrolled his red prayer rug, baiting the muscular cat into a friendly game of tug-of-war. The playful tussle helped distract Najl as he fought through hunger pangs. 'Yes, he helps me for that,' Najl said. At another Greenpoint bodega, shopkeeper Salim Yafai said his cat, Reilly, is so popular that one longtime customer even tried to buy him, asking Yafai for a price. 'I said $10,000. He said $1,000. I said, 'No.'' Yafai said.
