I’ve never been to Russ & Daughters, alas! I first read about it in Calvin Trillin’s classic TEPPER ISN’T GOING OUT, and was charmed and delighted to learn that it’s a real place. Since then, I’ve read Mark Russ Federman’s Russ & Daughters : reflections and recipes from the house that herring built. I follow them on Facebook and Twitter. And now, this.

I love fishing in Minecraft. You never know if you’re going to catch a fish, a wooden bowl, a pair of leather pants, or what. I usually catch fish. So I had a lot of fish. I mean, I had a lot of fish.

I said to myself, “With all these fish, I could open an appetizing store!” So I built one. I would have put a Russ & Daughters sign on it, but that didn’t work. So I’m still dreaming.

Here’s the store from a distance. There’s a glass roof over the outside seating, so customers can enjoy the sky even when it’s raining.

It’s built of acacia wood and polished granite. It’s right on the water, so you know the fish is as fresh as it can be.

Here we’ve stepped off the pier and are looking along the sand plaza. I put up an acacia wood fence so customers wouldn’t accidentally fall into the water.

Here is the pier we were just on.

Now we’re looking back along the sand plaza to the pier and the lighthouse.

Here is the counter. The signs say Place order here, Employees only behind counter, and Pick-up.

Here is the interior seating for the cafe.

The two-tops are blue and the booth tables are brown.

Here’s the outside seating with a view of the lighthouse and pier. They’re all two-tops out here, with only three seats at each table, so nobody obstructs the ocean view.

And here’s the lighthouse at night. That’s a jack-o-lantern giving off the glow, because they’re very bright.

And here’s my display case.

I have apples, fresh eggs from my own island chickens, fresh milk from my own island cows, raw salmon, cooked salmon, raw “fish”, cooked “fish” (I’m pretending the “fish” is herring), raw puffer fish, pumpkin pie, cake, roast chicken, raw steak, cooked steak, bread, chocolate chip cookies, and mushroom stew.

Some day, I’ll really go to the real Russ & Daughters. Until then, I have my dream.

I’m posting today at Fatal Foodies with tips on a great pie crust.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Where does your main character dream of going and what do they dream of doing? What do they do as a stop-gap gratification?

MA