Madison’s Café serves up a special version of this hearty, delicious fish stew.

Italian fishermen in San Francisco first developed Cioppino in the mid-1800s. There are two main versions of its evolution. Most believe the recipe is an altered version of an Italian soup, Ciuppin. Others believe that fishermen threw fish and other seafood into a communal pot for supper after a day’s work. Each called out to the other in broken English, “Chip in! Hey you, chip in!” These phrases are believed to be root words for Cioppino.

Rob Agee, owner of Madison’s, shares a few ingredients that he uses to create this nourishing dish:

Our rich broth consists of fresh tomatoes, onions, salt, pepper, garlic, butter, oregano, basil and a dash of crushed red pepper. Mussels, cod, scallops, squid, ocean clams, large shrimp and king crab legs are used as the seafood melody. Grilled sourdough bread points, dipped in olive oil, make for the perfect compliment.

Madison’s Café is located at 216 Madison St.