• the217
• Food + Drink
• U is for Underwater

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "What water? Crystal Lake? Are you crazy?" I mean, being in landlocked Illinois, eating seafood doesn't seem like such a good idea. There are obvious freshness issues that have to be addressed, and yet, I realize I'm being silly because there are these things called planes, and they can bring seafood in from the coasts in tip-top shape.

In fact, Champaign-Urbana is blessed with two very good seafood stores, Great American Seafood (1711 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign) and Trout 45 (2006 S. Neil St., Champaign). Both offer a nice selection of fresh fish and seafood, flown in on a regular basis. Great American Seafood also offers soups and pre-made foods (great for a quick dinner or for a dinner party), along with the usual assortment of seafood sauces, crackers and such. The staff there is happy to help you select something appropriate, and they can provide party trays with advance notice.

At Trout 45, a relative newcomer to Champaign, the selection is a bit more varied. Owner Nancy Hartman carries a ton of hot sauces and salsas, fun kitchen accessories and a very nicely edited wine and beer selection, in addition to her fresh fish and seafood offerings. When I went, the processed filets in the case looked nice and plump, the rainbow trout in particular had a lovely sheen, and the scallops were moist and fresh. These are the things you want to see when you buy fish! The fish should smell fresh and not bleachy or fishy, and the flesh should be firm and moist. If you're buying a whole fish, look at the scales (they should be shiny and not flaked off) and the eyes (they should be clear and protruding, not cloudy). If you start with good fish, most of the work is already done for you.

Once you select your fish or seafood, the staff can help you with tips on preparation. Fish come in so many different packages and can be prepared in so many different ways (seared, broiled, baked, steamed, fried, blackened, grilled, to name a few), it's easy to become overwhelmed by the options. Hartman has installed a demonstration kitchen, where she and her staff show customers different ways of preparing their products. Demonstrations are made every Wednesday, at 3 p.m. and at 6 p.m. For those of you leery of preparing fish at home, this is a great opportunity to learn from a pro.

If you don't want to make it yourself, however, the staff there will prepare your fish for you for a minimal fee. In addition, Trout 45 will smoke your fish for you (you can pick it up the next day). Like Great American Seafood, Trout 45 also offers party platters and pre-made foods, such as crab cakes and seafood salad.

Now if you can't handle the thought of even seeing a fish unless it's cooked and on a plate, then you need to head over to Kennedy's (2560 S. Stone Creek Blvd., Urbana), where they offer a different fish special every day based on what's freshest. At any given time, you might see Atlantic salmon, red snapper, swordfish, Pacific white sea bass, or yellow fin tuna on the menu. Kennedy's is a wonderful spot for a nice dinner in elegant surroundings, but sometimes you just want something good and on the double. Head over to the Seaboat (1114 N. Market St., Champaign), where they make yummy fish sandwiches. (I mean, can you go wrong eating fish from a place called the Seaboat? I think not!) Finish your meal off with a slice of their sweet potato pie, and now you're speaking my language.