Ca$h Mob goes for Fish n Chips (and More)

This weekend and through the turkey-day holiday week, members of the 500-strong Petaluma Ca$h Mob, hungry for non-turkey comfort food, will visit the mainstay local  Fourth & Sea for some fun cash activism.

Owner John Wertz’s establishment (which serves more than fish n chips) is looking towards its 12th anniversary, to be celebrated 1/1/13. The former Fosters Freeze was in the building for 50 years, and Wertz kept the soft serve equipment, but has changed everything else.

I’ve been a fan of the fish n chips since moving to Petaluma five years ago, but fans rave about the non-fried food too: fish tacos to die for (I’ve heard many times); Cincinnati favorite chili spaghetti, with homemade chili from locally and daily ground chuck steak; salads out of organic, locally sourced produce; a Portobello “burger” (sandwich)….  

“The building’s a work in progress and the menu’s a work in progress,” Wertz told me. “We use no additives or preservatives, and make everything from scratch, our sauces, our chili, our chowder. Once we put things on the menu, they tend to stay.”

Fourth & Sea’s menu is indeed growing. I counted more than 30 items, not including dessert.

A Petaluman for 25 years, Wertz has made 4th and Sea (open 7 days a week) not only a favorite local restaurant, but also a classic car magnet. From May to October, Fourth & Sea is the site of the Sunday Cruise In, where 100s of people show 100s of old cars, and are entertained by local bands like the Mixed Nuts, which have already signed on as next year’s band for the weekly events.

Since Fourth & Sea started its drive-up service a few months ago, even regular cars can be seen driving by the back door to pick up orders phoned in. So Ca$h Mobsters on holiday can easily pick up some fresh local food over the next week, whether dine in, dine out or drive through.