Walking into Blue + Berries Seafood Market and Pastry Cafe, one can be impressed with the market offerings and the gorgeous fresh seafood. It could be the sushi that catches your eye or the mouthwatering items in the cafe. As amazing as all Blue + Berries has to offer, it's the warm and friendly atmosphere that sets it apart. Ji Yoon, along with her husband, Jonathan, her mom, Christine, and her father, Mr. Kim, is the family behind this local gem.
Even though restaurants and small businesses were closing left and right due to the pandemic, Ji and her family pushed through to make their collective dream a reality. Ji elaborates, "During Covid, when all the restaurants were shut down for months and months, we decided to go forward with opening our kitchen to bring out our passion for hospitality. I also invited my mother and father into the kitchen with their expertise in authentic Korean cooking and preparing seafood. We established a market with one side of fresh and cooked seafood and Korean prepared meals and another side of cafe and pastries." Ji handles the operations and customer service, and Jonathan is the head chef, managing all the take-out seafood and pastries. Christine is a sushi chef who prepares all the Korean dishes, and Mr. Kim is in charge of all the fresh seafood, from buying to cleaning to cutting and selling.
Ji was inspired by infamous New York City culinary destinations like Eataly and Chelsea Market to bring a diverse and distinct gourmet quality marketplace to Fairfield. "With fresh seasonal ingredients, our market has a year-round main menu, as well as a seasonal menu, that reflects food trends and cultural varieties," says Ji. Bestsellers include fresh salmon filets, poke bowls, and Bulgogi or marinated Korean Ribeye rice bowls. "Homemade authentic Kimchi and Jap Chae - Korean sweet potato noodles, are always requested by our dear customers," Ji adds. And let's not forget Jonathan's strawberry chiffon cupcakes are among the bakery favorites. As for Ji and her family - which includes her three sweet daughters, Elle, Gianna, and Ariella, who visit the shop every day after school - their favorite meal is her husband's specialty - Korean Spicy Fried Chicken and Steamed Pork Dumplings.
Blue + Berries - to those in the know - has become a must-stop for meals and treats between work, carpooling, and all the errands during the busy week. When Ji's typically hectic schedule allows some free time, you'll find the Fairfield mom at Fit Club Jiujitsu and Cardio Kick to recharge. She also enjoys relaxing at the beach and Sundays at Black Rock Church with her family.
Primarily, Ji appreciates being there for her customers, "I love being part of our customers' big days, small days, and every day, helping them get fresh and delicious food for their families and guests. It is also very fulfilling that I can grow my business and my girls at the same time.”
Blue + Berries
2205 Black Rock Tpke, Fairfield, CT 06825
(203) 296-2025
blueandberries.com @blue_andberries
"We decided to go forward with opening our kitchen to bring out our passion for hospitality."
"It is also very fulfilling that I can grow my business and my girls at the same time.”
