Bob “The Fish Guy” Reany of Denver beat out 10 other contestants to win Whole Foods Market’s first-ever Fishmonger Face-Off and take home the golden trident at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colo., on 16 June.
Currently a seafood team leader at Whole Foods’ Highlands Ranch, Colo., store, Reany has been a fishmonger for nearly 40 years. He has worked with Whole Foods for six years, earning a reputation as “The Halibut Slayer.”
Contestants had three minutes to cut and fillet a Marine Stewardship Council-certified wild Alaska salmon and were judged on the highest yield and best craftsmanship. Reany finished the job in just 90 seconds.
The 11 competing fishmongers were selected by regional competitions and, in addition to Reany, included: Mikey “Numba One Cutta” Schmitz of Encinitas, Calif.; Abbatt “El Tigre” Story of Atlanta, Ga.; Andres “Mussels” Barroso of Swampscott, Mass.; Zach “Public Anemone” Langford of Austin, Texas; Jordan “Stone Crab” Silva of Naples, Fla.; Ken “The Rock” Riccardi of Callowhill, Pa.; Alejandro “Codfather” Macias of Los Gatos, Calif.; Andrew “Wu-Tang Clam” Ogden of Middletown, N.J.; Heriberto “Senor Pescado” Medina of Deerfield, Ill.; Cavan “The Dog Whisperer” Hua of Vancouver, British Columbia.
The competition was emceed by celebrity chef John Besh. Judges include Chef Paul Qui, recent James Beard and Top Chef Texas winner, and David Pilat, Whole Foods global seafood buyer.
