Those feeling famished at Cup Match need look no further for sustenance than Sid's Seafood. Foodies and cricket lovers will be delighted to know that Sid's has some of the finest seafood on the Island no matter which team you root for. East or West, Sid's Seafood serves up some of the best.

Gary Caisey, owner of Sid's Seafood, spoke with The Royal Gazette about the upcoming Cup Match holiday and the history of his popular seafood restaurants and stalls.

"Sid's Seafood came about 20 years ago around the time of the fish pot ban," explained Mr. Caisey. "I used to be a commercial fisherman. When the ban came in I had to earn another living so I started importing seafood as a business which I sold five years ago. During that time I also decided to enter into the restaurant business. I had Sid's Seafood restaurants and stalls around the island for quite a while, however the stress of running the restaurant was too much. I couldn't find good local workers which made it very difficult to keep the restaurants open. I stopped the restaurants three years ago, but kept the stall business which I've run for around 20 years now. I've been working Cup Match since 1990. I also supply fish chowder to various outlets on the Island year round."

Mr. Caisey's nickname is Sid and when it came time to choosing the restaurant name he thought it sounded better and was more catchy than Gary's Seafood. Sid's Seafood stalls can be found at most major events around the Island. He and his seafood cuisine can always be found at events such as Cup Match, county games, the May 24 celebration, the Music Festival and the Rugby Classic.

"I've always been a good personal cook at home," noted Mr. Caisey. "As a kid I can recall my Mom doing a lot of cooking. I learnt lots from her just by paying attention. Bermuda being naturally surrounded by water, I always took to the water to do things. It was easy for me to learn to cook fish and lobster and anything that came out of the water.

"The whole secret is seasoning. If you handle the seasoning right the product will come out nicely. I make sure the batter is seasoned nicely and the customers love it. I had a great cook, Linda Pitcher, who worked with me for six or seven years. While I had the restaurant she was my main cook. She was a great asset to the business and she still helps me out occasionally with the stalls."

Preparation, hard work and a strong menu that appeals to people are the keys to running a successful food stall at Cup Match according to Mr. Caisey.

"To prepare we take a week in advance to get everything ready," said the seafood chef extraordinaire. "We build a nice plywood and two by four stall covered with canvas. We bring all our equipment in and get it ready for the health department inspections. The health inspectors make us better as vendors. We have to conform to their requirements and we are better because of it. The health department guys and I work closely together.

"This year we are in St. George's for Cup Match and I'll be in one of the structured buildings. This is the first time I won't have to make a stall for Cup Match. Our menu consists of Seafood! We serve fish, shrimp, scallops, mussel pie, conch stew, fish chowder, marinated mussels, fish sandwich and hash shark. Shark hash is a very popular item. I'm a licensed local fisherman and I'm successful with turbot fish which has proven to be quite popular with the customers."

Mr. Caisey is looking forward to this years Cup Match and hopes all of Bermuda comes out to have a good time with good friends and good food. "I don't recall missing many Cup Match's," added Mr. Caisey. "When I was a youngster I worked the snowball stands at Cup Match. I've followed St. George's my whole life. Cup Match and I are intertwined from the days of my youth. My dad was one of the main selectors at the St. George's Cricket Club.

"Sid's Seafood is my life now. I fish and when it comes time for the stalls I take it to heart and I like doing it. It grows on you and you feel like you have a duty to do. I look forward to coming out to do the stalls for county games and Cup Match."