Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery
10700 Merritt St., Castroville
(831) 633-2152, philsfishmarket.com
It was high noon. A nervous crowd edged away from the little corral – close enough to catch the action, but out of harm’s way. Somewhere a stray dog barked. The notorious outlaw Bobby Flay had challenged sheriff Phil DiGirolamo’s cioppino, and now the two faced off. Flay drew first, but DiGirolamo’s aim was true. With shellfish, flaky white fish, a satisfying broth and a slab of garlic bread, Phil had finished off his rival to claim the cioppino title. That was on Throwdown. And clearly, the readers agree. So does everyone else, as Phil’s ships cioppino via stage or the iron horse all over the country.
