Back to Basics.......using the Fishmonger

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Following on from the back to basics... using a butcher

we now have one for the Fishmonger.
I personally haven't used a fishmonger ( or i did it was an extreme rare occasion as i can't remember:o)

We are not big fish eaters, and when we do its normally smoked kippers for hubby.

We do like fish, but haven't got a clue, its normally fish from the chip shop:rotfl:

I know there are a few fishmongers in swansea market, but it just looks soooo confusing:o

HELP!!!!!

maybe someone could do a guie on how to use a fishmonger

Georgiegirl256

I'll be interested to follow this thread We had a new fishmongers open up in town a few years ago now, lots of big advertising, was really busy at first, but then the prices just shot up, and where it once was cheaper and possibly fresher than the supermarkets, the prices are just really high now, so it doesn't make any sense to go there anymore.

We just buy our fish pre-packed in the supermarket now, as they usually have some good deals on, and it's cheaper than buying it off the actual fish counter.

We dont really eat that much fish, just salmon really, but would love to try different kinds.

katep23

One tip I was given was that whole fish are the freshest. Once they get a bit older, the fishmonger takes the head off, then when they need using up they fillet them.

If you can learn how to fillet a fish then you can buy whole fish - check the skin is shiny and the eyes are clear.

Edwardia

My mother and I both live fairly close to the sea so we are lucky and can pop down and see what's about (there are seasons for fish, too).

Some species of fish are under pressure because they are the most popular, which means generally they will be the most expensive, too. They are also the most likely to be farmed.

Salmon, sea bass, prawns and bream are farmed now (although still available as wild) and you may also find farmed cod. Not all fish will be shown as farmed, so if you want wild I suggest asking.

Farmed fish may be fattier, it may not taste of much (it grows faster) and it can be fed on feed from GM (genetically modified) crops unless marked as organic (it's possible to buy organic farmed salmon and brown trout).

Cheaper fish would be things like dab, Cornish sardines (pilchards) and gurnard (rascasse) a classic ingredient of soupe de poissons.

I would suggest the Marine Stewardship Council website as a good plaice (sorry) to look for info on fish.

http://www.msc.org/where-to-buy/product-finder will help you find sustainable fish products. Fish which is frozen at sea can be fresher than fish which has been hanging around in fish markets.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Fishfight campaign www.fishfight.net was started to stop discards in the North Sea but you'll find more about marine conservation zones too.

On the YouTube channel there are loads of videos includhing some how to cook ones. In fact YouTube is a fantastic source of how to prepare and cook fish videos from all over the world.

Your fishmonger should be able to tell you what's farmed and what's local. The fishmonger will prepare fish however you want eg filleted or steaked. As a bare minimum it should be gutted and descaled already. If you want the trimmings for stock or soup ask, because if charged by weight then you are paying for them !

Fresh fish should not be really slimy looking with sunken looking eyes and it certainly shouldn't stink. Anything with an ammonia smell is off. You probably won't find off fish in a proper fishmonger, but in a supermarket you might.

If you can't bear the thought of handling fish but like eating it once cooked, I suggest ASDA's fish counter. All the prep is done for you, you just ask for a cook bag, choose your butter and when you get home, follow the cooking instructions on the bag, which goes in the oven. My local fishmongers don't do cook bags but yours might.

HTH x

maman

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Following on from the back to basics... using a butcher

we now have one for the Fishmonger.
I personally haven't used a fishmonger ( or i did it was an extreme rare occasion as i can't remember:o)

We are not big fish eaters, and when we do its normally smoked kippers for hubby.

We do like fish, but haven't got a clue, its normally fish from the chip shop:rotfl:

I know there are a few fishmongers in swansea market, but it just looks soooo confusing:o

HELP!!!!!

maybe someone could do a guie on how to use a fishmonger

:wave:I used to shop at the fishmongers in Swansea Market when I lived there. There were two of them quite close together near the Quadrant. One was on the Hairy Bikers gourmet programme a few weeks ago. I remember hake being a favourite as a child but that's only seemed widely available in recent years.

Where I live in the SE I can't think of any fishmongers near where I shop. I use the fish counters in the supermarkets. The best locally (at not too exhorbitant prices) are Asda and Morrisons. As I don't do a main shop in either I tend to make a special trip and stock up. I buy mainly haddock and cod.

I do buy bags of frozen fish for convenience and price sometimes. I almost feel guilty typing this, surely they haven't got horse DNA in them!;):rotfl:

anniemf2508

Sadly i think i live in one of the most inland places in the country so fishmongers are a rarity (unless you count the supermarket). There is a fish stall on our local market from Grimsby but it always smells awful so i wouldn't buy from there.
I get my fish by mail order from cornwall...they only use day boats so its pretty sustainable. Last time i paid £25 for a selection of their catch and i was really impressed with the amount and the quality of it.

tessie_bear

great thread...annie i think we could be neighbours we live in the centre of uk so far from the sea and there isnt a fish mongers in our town...there is a stall on the market from grimsby which is very popular and a counter in asda and sainsburys

one tip i have noticed is be carefulo if fish is sitting in a bag saying previously frozen...u arent suppose to freeze again and i should think it wont be in its first flush of freshness

fish i like (dh only eats tinned tuna)
salmon
cod/haddock
skate wings
plaice
prawns

oh and the mix for fish pie is nice...edwardia very informative post thankyou for that
tess

COOLTRIKERCHICK

THanks Edwardia for the links..

We have been following Hugh FW with the fish fight,

Maman... small world.....swansea market is a bit of a trek for me, BUT I would rather go somewhere, where I know is busy, so I know the produce is going to be fresh, and the price must be right.

When ever we are in swansea we allways buy Cockles, lovely with vinegar and pepper:D

What Fish would be in season now???

Annie have you got a link to where you buy your fish from?

I can use it to 'read up' on fish names etc, plus If I find that I get confused at the fishmongers, then maybe I could use them.

As I say We are not big fish eaters, and really should eat more.

Edwardia

This link shows fish seasons for the south coast. Grigg's of Hythe was one of Rick Stein's foodie heroes and they do mail order. I've bought from them but not by mail order.

They have a huge range as they buy local and also from Boulogne (biggest fish processing port in France) which is nearer than Billingsgate for them. They also get the currency advantage. Nevertheless they aren't cheap. They also sell via Foodari IIRC

http://www.griggsofhythe.com/fish_seasons.html

http://www.wingofstmawes.co.uk/wholesale/seasonal_fish
This one is for Cornwall

MSC seasons chart
www.mcsuk.org/downloads/fisheries/BuyingFishInSeason.pdf

http://www.tregidasmokehouse.co.uk/
I buy fish from here via Abel & Cole but you can buy direct.

Have used these and like them but not used mail order.
http://www.rockanore.co.uk/
http://www.fishshophastings.co.uk/

My nearest fishery doesn't really do retail sales as most of their catch is seafood and goes to France,

Arguably best smoked salmon smokers in UK -
http://www.formanandfield.com/the-fishmongers-smoked-salmon-c-130_1_35.html Not cheap but wild Baltic salmon from 9.95, London cure Scottish smoked salmon from 9.95 (thinking Christmas).

Cheapest smoked salmon I know of is farmed, either Norwegian or Scottish, at Lidl. ASDA Smartprice does smoked salmon trimmings really cheap.

A legendary London fishmonger is Steve Hatt in Essex Rd, London N1 but I don't know of a website. Google though there's plenty of info about him.

If you're prepared to get up early, the public can buy at Billingsgate Fish Market in London, which you can see from Canary Wharf.

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business/wholesale-food-markets/billingsgate/Pages/Tours-and-visits.aspx

http://www.seafish.org/media/sustainability/responsible-sourcing-guides

Seafish has some really good info on fish species but it doesn't always say when the fish is in season.

partan

Hugh is full of?.............


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lindseykim13

ooh will check back on this, haven't the time right now.
One quick one though-if you buy whole fish don't forget to gut it before freezing or cooking i've made that mistake a few times, the guts tend to spoil the fish if you freeze them in. Yuk!

I have been making a real effort in the last year or two to eat more fish, would recommed anything smoked essp trout.

What i can't stand is the prep, gutting, scaling ect-too worried to ask the staff to prep it for me and then i fight with it for ages as i can't fillet properly!