A Conversation with Joby Norton

Grab your coffee or tea because it’s time for the next installment of Creativity Over Coffee and I can’t wait to share my conversation with Joby Norton owner of Mullaney’s Fish Market! You are in for such a treat today!

We’ve known Joby for many many years and he does so much good in our community. It is such an honor and pleasure to share his story.

Creativity Over Coffee

Meet Joby! He is one of the kindest, hard working, and generous people we know. He remembers everyone who comes into Mullaney’s and he has a love for the fishing industry and the waters that surround our beautiful town. We feel blessed to live so close to Mullaney’s Harborside and grateful for the entire team. They create wonderful events and always have the BEST fish and seafood. I’m so glad I can help share what a special place Mullaney’s Harborside is and also share more about Joby.

A Conversation with Joby Norton

Thank you so much for joining me for coffee and a chat about your creative process. When I had just graduated from film school in London and couldn’t find work, I found inspiration through the many biographies I read from the library. I used to go there each week and take out more.

Many people believe they are not creative. I hear this all the time. It is my hope with these conversations with my talented friends that I hope to inspire my readers to believe that they truly are creative. That creativity is just sitting inside of them waiting to bubble over.

We are HUGE fans of Mullaney’s seafood and you. Can you tell my readers (who don’t live locally) more about Mullaney’s?

Joby – Hi Danielle. For your reader who don’t live locally I own Mullaney’s Fish Market in Scituate and Cohasset and have been working here for 38 years since I was 15. We are a local fish company that specializes in local sustainable seafood. Besides the 2 retail stores, we also supply high end restaurants from Boston to Plymouth, as well as, broker fish for the fishermen that we do not process on site.

We absolutely love everything you do. Can you share more about the processing facility in Scituate Harbor and your commitment to sustainability?

Joby – We built our new retail/processing facility in Scituate a few years ago. I wanted to build a building that was not only functionally efficient and attractive, but also energy efficient (mostly because I am cheap). We went 20 feet underground with our refrigeration / freezers / lobster system because it is naturally 50 degrees and our mechanicals do not use as much energy. We also worked with the architect placing the windows in building to maximize natural light. And of course we have our garden roof top that not only keeps the building cool in Summer & warm in Winter, grows our produce and herbs for our value added products, but also is a great place to have a party overlooking Scituate harbor.

Do you have a favorite type of fish?

Joby – If I had to choose a favorite fish I guess I would have to say sole. For me it is very easy, quick to cook and tasty.

What about a great fish recipe to share?

Joby – For a sole recipe, heat a glug of olive oil in a pan. Lightly dust your sole fillets in flour or corn meal/masa, or a mixture of both with a few chopped fresh herbs from the garden. Place sole in pan and brown on both sides (maybe 1 -2 min each side). Add a teaspoon of butter and spoon over fillets when melted. Carefully transfer fillets to a plate. Throw some chopped garlic, white wine (hopefully you already opened a bottle to help cook), and more chopped fresh herbs in pan and reduce by ½. Drizzle over fish and serve with your veg and starch.

Ooooh, I can’t wait to try that! When do you feel most creative or happy?

Joby – I am most creative and happy at home in my kitchen making a meal for my family or friends. To be able to make a meal from whatever I have on hand either of the boats, from my garden or the way too many condiments I have in the doors of my refrigerator. The smell of food cooking and sound of the waves crashing drops my blood pressure immediately.

Who or what inspires you?

Joby – I think I get inspiration from giving 100% and producing something that I can be proud of. Feeding people a fresh local food that is healthy for their family, while also being good for our community is a simple thing, but overlooked too often.

Can you talk a little about Catch 143?

Joby – Catch 143 is a charity we started with some of the local fishermen to be able to donate some of their catches to non profit organizations and schools. It allows the fishermen to still get paid for their catch and Mullaneys processes it and distributes it to food pantry, senior centers, churches and anyone who has an economic need for healthy local foods.

What’s your favorite color?

Joby – Blue

Same! Do you have any funny fish tales you’d like to tell?

Joby – When I first started out unloading boats down the docks when I was a kid a fisherman told me that I was buying very rare, expensive albino cod that I should pay more for. What I was actually buying was older cod that had been bleached by him leaving the fish in the nets too long. I thought I was getting a deal until Mr. Mullaney told me it was all trash and needed to be thrown away.

What’s on the horizon for Mullaney’s? Do you have any events coming up or anything you’d like to share?

Joby – Be on the look out for some of our fun pop up events and collaborations.

What advice would you give someone who’d like to follow in your footsteps?

Joby – The fishing industry or restaurant industry is very demanding of your time. You have to really have a passion for it to sustain enjoyability out of 12hr days and 60hr weeks. If someone has that passion the only advice I would give is “Just do it”.

Growing up I was a huge follower of INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO. At the end of the program, they would ask the interviewee these questions:

What is your favorite word? Nice
What is your least favorite word? Sorry
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? The world directly around me
What turns you off? Laziness
What is your favorite curse word? FUCK!
What sound or noise do you love? The ocean
What sound or noise do you hate? An alarm
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? A farmer
What profession would you not like to do? Banking or Insurance
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? “Atta Boy”

Wasn’t that a fun conversation? I love Joby’s outlook and also his support of the fishing industry and making it accessible to everyone on the South Shore and beyond.

Be sure to follow along with Joby:

If you’d like more Creativity Over Coffee you can read the full series here.

Photos courtesy of Joby Norton / Mullaney’s Seafood

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