This weekend I made my way out to the Oregon wine and seafood festival, held on the coast in Newport OR. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I thought wine and seafood? this should be a pretty chill experience, do some tasting, chat with local fishermen and vineyards. However, it turned out that it was not the simple gathering I had pictured but a ginormous party! People from all over the pacific northwest and all walks of life came together to celebrate this region’s abundance in wine and seafood. It was so neat to see so many different people celebrating food! I did get some good tastes of things, but it became more about the spectacle of the crowd once my hunger was quelled. While looking for some real seafood (not pre-prepared, Styrofoam wrapped, or in a Dixie cup) I couldn’t help but remember the unbelievable sites I saw at the Tokyo fish market when I visited last year. There really is no comparison as this was a festival and the fish market in Tokyo is a huge commercial industry. But it did make me a bit nostolgic for a glimpse of something real from the sea.

The Tokyo fish market was a fascinating spectacle and the most seafood I had ever seen in one place (I am literally surprised that there is anything left in the ocean after seeing this place). There were restaurants bidding on the best fresh fish, vibrant colors, textures, and just a lot of things going on all at once! I also had the best sushi I’ve ever tasted at this fish market. (Surprisingly, Tokyo does not have a sushi bar on every corner. I thought they’d be like how Starbucks are here or something!). Here are some pictures from it…