Zoe's Seafood Story

Hi! My name is Zoe and I’m a rising senior at Haverford College, majoring in Environmental Studies and Education. Growing up in an Asian household, food has always been a huge part of my life. My family especially loves cooking seafood together. Some of our favorite dishes include steamed seabass with ginger and scallions, braised tilapia, creamy fish soup, and spicy hotpot loaded with fresh whole fish.

One of the Asian grocery stores I grew up with is called 新好運超市, also known as Asian Fresh Food. It is located in Middletown Township NJ, and one of my favorite things to pick up from there is Pocky. I also never leave without grabbing a Hello Panda cookie.

When it comes to seafood, we usually buy live tilapia and sea bass because they are fresh and versatile. They are the perfect ingredients for many of the meals that we make at home.

I have been visiting this market since middle school, so it has become a familiar place for my family. Over the years, I have watched it grow into a popular destination for local Asian communities to shop. As more people began to visit, the selection of ingredients, fresh seafood, snacks, and specialty products from across Asia expanded. Despite this growth, many of the same employees have remained, creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes each visit feel familiar and like home. With each visit, I have also discovered many new ingredients and snacks that I now look forward to buying.

My favorite seafood meal made with ingredients from this grocery store would be spicy hotpot with fresh tilapia! It is simple to prepare and packed with flavor (which is perfect for sharing with family and friends).

Hotpot tilapia I made with my family.