It all began in a small New England town 25 years ago.
A little about me. Born Margaret Leclerc in Everett Massachusetts in 1965. I grew up in Lynn, where I went to St. Michael’s for grammar school (where I was constantly nagged by nuns), Breed junior high (where I was introduced to the principal once or twice) and graduated from Lynn Tech (where I was tested by nature and lived to tell about it). I immediately went to Newbury College, a junior college back then, to study culinary arts. Being of French and Italian decent, food just seemed to be the next thing.
My first job was at Papa Gino's in Revere, and then I was flipping steaks at Hilltop Steakhouse in Saugus, for 3 years. Talk about huge, 1200 seats, a wait at 3 in the afternoon and a 12 person line, now that’s learning about quality and quantity.
Next I set my sights on seafood. Knowing I wanted to move to Florida, I set out to learn everything I could learn to make a success of my own seafood restaurant. I wanted to learn about the best from the best. I worked at Legal Seafoods at Copley Place where I became an asset in all aspects of the kitchen. You’d think you just put the fish in the fryer and it does the rest, but I very quickly learned it's an art. Grilling, baking, broiling, all an artform. After a year and a half of dealing with the T, and the snow and the traffic I set my sights on my childhood dream of opening a restaurant in Florida.
And off I went. I took all my experience, most of my things, and what little money I had and hit the road. I landed in Venice and knew after only a few days this was the place for me. I got a job and settled in. After a few years I called my dad and like always he was eager to help however he could. I told him I was ready to build the dream if he could help and off we went. We decided on New England seafood because I missed it so much and knew there were lots of other New Englanders who also missed it. I thought about all the things I couldn’t get down here, haddock, clams, scallops, not the bay scallops, these are big juicy sea scallops. We have cheese steaks, chicken phillies, burgers and wings.
If you're like me, you miss the comfort foods of home like clam chowder
and clam cakes, cod and cheesecake.
So drive your car, take the bus, ride your bike, or walk to A Bit of Boston today for the taste of home you've been missing.