By Casey Neill
A familiar face will be selling seafood from a new Dandenong Market stall.
Husband and wife team Michael and Cheryl Curmi opened MC Quality Seafood on Friday 14 July.
Michael has been a fixture for 14 years at Dandenong Market’s oldest trader, Schwarze Seafood.
“When I shifted over this side of town, my old boss was friends with Dennis Schwarze,” he said.
“He introduced me, and I started working with Dennis.
“I’ve been in the fish game for 20 years.
“I’m actually a butcher by trade.”
He said it was time for the next challenge in his life, and Hellenic Seafood had vacated the store.
“I know the market. I know the clientele,” he said.
“I thought there was room for another seafood trader.”
Cheryl also worked at Schwarze for about five years.
MC Quality Seafood will be a smaller operation, with a focus on quality, price and customer service.
Michael personally selects the day’s catch at the markets – a 2.30am start.
“You do what you gotta do,” he said.
He said it could be hard to decide what to buy for his customers.
“You’re not to know how busy a day it’s going to be,” he said.
“There could be weather and other factors that will alter the price at the wholesale market.
“You’ve got all these variables we’ve got to think about at 3am!”
His personal favourite seafood items are rockling and flathead.
“They’re easy with the kids and very versatile, too,” he said.
