Chef Erik Syhre

smseafoodFeatured Chefs

Erik Syhre is the Executive Chef at Culinary Dropout Farmer Arts District in Tempe, Arizona and brings extensive experience and knowledge to the team. Chef Syhre has worked for Fox Restaurant Concepts for seven years, contributing to the opening of new stores and breathing new life into existing concepts. Born in El Paso, Texas, Chef Syhre and his family moved …

Chef Jay Trubee

smseafoodFeatured Chefs

Chef Jay Trubee opened restaurants in Boston, New York and Nantucket before he and his wife, June, opened Jillian’s in Palm Desert 22 years ago.   Jay’s Culinary Institute of America training and travels in Europe and the United States have inspired his love of the art of cooking. Not only does he prepare superb cuisine, he is responsible for the …

Chef Ben Diaz

smseafoodFeatured Chefs

Born in Los Angeles, Executive Chef Ben Diaz has always had a fascination with cooking, which stemmed from watching his father (an accomplished chef himself) in the kitchen. “Watching my dad cook breakfast and seeing the passion he had for his craft really inspired me, ” says Chef Diaz. A graduate of France’s prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, he is also …

Chef Matt Fresinski

smseafoodFeatured Chefs

As a child, Executive Chef Matt Fresinski would go fishing with his grandfather in upstate New York visiting his “secret” fishing spots. Although they never caught as many as they would have liked, when they did, it was always extremely exciting. At the age of 13, Chef Fresinski knew that he wanted to become a chef when he grew up.  …

Chef Greg Frey Jr.

smseafoodFeatured Chefs

Chef Greg Frey Jr. has always loved to cook but says being a chef was never really something he thought about as a child. However, his family is quick to remind him that early on his world was already revolving around food.  “My family use to travel to Italy often when I was a kid and I couldn’t wait each …

Chef John A. Baez

smseafoodFeatured Chefs

Growing up in Austin, Texas, Executive Chef John A. Baez from Tommy Bahama of Las Vegas had quite a few early childhood memories where lakes and rivers were quite plentiful.  “I remember going swimming at some of the local river holes as a kid and being terrified of the aquatic life present. I recall being afraid to initially dive in as …

Santa Monica Seafood Completes Acquisition of American Fish

smseafoodIndustry News, Special Announcement

July 4th, Independence Day, took on a whole new meaning for approximately 150 individuals who became new employees of Santa Monica Seafood on that date.  Santa Monica Seafood completed its acquisition of certain assets comprising the seafood division of Prospect Enterprises Inc.  This included groups doing business as American Fish & Seafood in Los Angeles, Sacramento and Phoenix, Chesapeake Fish …

Chef Jeremy Tummel

smseafoodFeatured Chefs

A native of Southern California, Chef Jeremy Tummel grew up fishing since he was just a young boy.  “I’ve been fishing my entire life, it’s my favorite hobby and one that I am pretty good at!  I have realized that it’s the little things that make for great memories though, scouring the tide pools for periwinkles, gooseneck barnacles, seaweeds and …

Chef Jeffrey Strauss

smseafoodFeatured Chefs

Jeffrey Strauss, the executive chef and owner of Pamplemousse Grille in Solana Beach brings a life-long appreciation of seafood into his kitchen. “When I was young I would head out to Fire Island with friends and using a rake, dig for clams. Cooking them on the beach is one of my favorite childhood memories. When I was a kid I would always order …

Chef Susan Feniger

smseafoodFeatured Chefs

From the new ceviche bar at Border Grill in The Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas to the signature Pescado Veracruzano at the iconic location in Santa Monica, you can tell just by looking at the menus that Chef Susan Feniger has a thing for seafood. We weren’t surprised to learn Chef Feniger’s appreciation for fresh seafood started in …