Page 106 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 DISCOVERING MENDOCINO

Noyo Harbor is the restaurant row for Fort Our second stop for takeout was Princess
Bragg and a very popular destination for seafood Seafood Market & Deli. While touring the harbor
lovers. The eight seafood restaurants, each with with Captain Dan the previous day, we passed a
its own style and atmosphere, are positioned to 42-foot fishing boat with Princess painted on the
give diners views of the harbor’s bustling activi- bow. He said it belonged to Captain Heather Sears,
ties. While we were having lunch, a charter boat who started trolling with her dad when she was
pulled up to Noyo Fish Company dock and off- eight years old and now sails with an all-female
loaded a large burlap bag full of just-caught fish. crew. In 2018, she took an enormous risk to trans-
Seals, otters, ravens, osprey, and gulls also enter- form an abandoned fish market into an outlet for
tain diners. her sustainably caught catch. Princess Seafood
Our two lunches at Noyo Harbor were outstand- Market & Deli with all female employees was a big
ing. The first was at Noyo Fish Company that we hit and soon bought fish from other boats to keep
had heard serves the best fish and chips in town. up with demand.
And they were right. Nestled on paper in a plastic Besides fresh seafood, the fish market sold
basket, the moist mild fish was fresh and crisp in chowder and then fish and crab sandwiches. Later
its perfectly fried batter. They also feature prawns they added grilled fish to the menu. And the
and chips, or a combination of both prawns and Princess, as the locals call it, became one of the
fish. Their Baja-style fish or shrimp tacos served most popular eateries in town. We waited in line
with spicy slaw, chips and salsa are a house spe- on a cold, damp afternoon for the famed Dun-
cialty. geness crab sandwich. Succulent and sweet, it was
well worth the wait.

106 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2021