34 replies to this topic

[Alex Parker]

I am doing a dinner for 15 people and the hostess has decided on Fish as one of the main courses. But she doesn't want anything too common. I have done Salmon and Tuna for her in the past. I was thinking something like Monk fish but its pricey here as its trendy as all hell at the moment.

Anyone have any recommendations as to a fun weird, great tasting fish?

Thanks in advance.


Alex

[haresfur]

What part of the world? Maybe whole sole or plaice.

[Nayan Gowda]

It would probably be helpful to know where in the world you are

[pacman1978]

Monkfish for me is an amazing fish, so meaty and robust that it really stands up well to bold flavours. Few fish I can think of are:

Turbot - also slightly expensive but a beutiful clean tasting fish
Mackarel - nice and oily and so goes well with sharp flavours to cut through the oiliness. Cheap as hell here in the uk - goes really well with beetroot and horseradish
Swordfish - Very similar to tuna in texture, really meaty and can be handled in a similar way
Mullet - Mediterranean fish that can be nice stuffed with lemon, herbs, etc and roasted.
Trout - similar to salmon really nice cooked en pappiotte
Cod/Haddock - very common in the uk meaty clean tasting fish although probably a little boring for what you are after.
Sea Bream/Sea bass - really good with oriental flavours

What type of cuisine are you thinking of cooking as certain fish lend themselves to those styles? Hope these are some ideas!

[Mjx]

Catfish.

[seabream]

Skate.

[pastrygirl]

sturgeon

[Beebs]

+1 for mackerel. So freaking good, mouth waters when I think about it....

[Hendrik]

Expensive:
halibut
brill
John Dory

Cheap:
lemon sole
whiting
plaice

[Baselerd]

Sea bass is nice, albeit expensive.

[Joe Blowe]

Thread is now about throwing out random fish names

My vote is for sanma. OP can Google it.

[pacman1978]

You can get farmed sea bass as well which is smaller but cheaper and still pretty decent I think..

[Beebs]

Thread is now about throwing out random fish names

Well, if we're talking about "weird" fish, I'll throw in shark, skate or eel. If you have access to one, hang out at an Asian fishmonger, there's plenty of "weird" stuff there without breaking the bank.

If you want "fun" fish - a heaping plate of deep-fried whitebait. Not really an entree type dish, but so much fun to snack on!

[pacman1978]

Eel is lovely - once had an amazing soup in a chinese restaurant with eel and pork belly. Only thing is it can be tricky to eat as has the bone that runs through it

[ScottyBoy]

Did you sneak in a "What types are you thinking?" for her? Sometimes they won't get too out of the box and it may be a fish you could save on food cost . Also are you doing this dinner all yourself? I always have to factor in the size of the group with how hard the fish is to work with.

[Alex Parker]

Sorry. Wrote that in a hurry as I am busy here.

I am in Ontario Canada. I was thinking about shark but its pricey.

To the person who suggested the Pacific Saury, I never really thought of it. The dinner is in two weeks, and in keeping with a late Autumn theme, the fish would go well with that. Maybe do something with a Daikon lime reduction, as those flavours lend well to the fish. Hmm.. I know there was a shortage in 2010. Are prices still on the rebound because of that?

Keep them coming!


Alexander.

[GlorifiedRice]

SWAI! What the hell is that stuff?

[Mjx]

Sorry. Wrote that in a hurry as I am busy here.

I am in Ontario Canada. I was thinking about shark but its pricey.

To the person who suggested the Pacific Saury, I never really thought of it. The dinner is in two weeks, and in keeping with a late Autumn theme, the fish would go well with that. Maybe do something with a Daikon lime reduction, as those flavours lend well to the fish. Hmm.. I know there was a shortage in 2010. Are prices still on the rebound because of that?

Keep them coming!


Alexander.

I had shark once, and it tasted faintly of ammonia; I was told this was usual and 'special', but regardless, I'd say that if it is usual for shark to taste like that, you might want to think twice about it.

Also, what sort of presentation are you going with? Whole, skin and head on? If not, regardless of how 'fun, weird' your fish looks when it's on the slab, when it's served, it's just going to be 'fish', in which case, I'd focus on finding the tastiest reasonably priced fish for your purposes, and if the name isn't 'fun' enough, just find out what it's called in another language (e.g.the one whose cuisine is inflecting the dish as a whole), and use that.

[Alex Parker]

Heh. Not basing it on the name. My client has a love of seafood, and as such her pallet is exceptional, so "fish" taste isn't really going to cut it. I am definitely wanting do a whole fish presentation, skin on etc, and I am going to probably plate it on slate.


Did shark when I was in culinary school. Didn't notice any ammonia tastes within it, so I cant say all shark tastes like that. What kind of shark was it?



Alex

[Panaderia Canadiense]

Can you get your hands on a whole Dorado (Mahi Mahi)? They're very unusual looking creatures and would respond well to that kind of plating.

The other ideas I have are both expensive and difficult to source in Canada - whole piranha, steamed in banana leaf with garlic and taro root, is particularly delicious and a conversation starter; Arrowana is also extremely decorative and tasty, but I think you'd have to source it at pet stores.

[Hendrik]

I had shark once, and it tasted faintly of ammonia; I was told this was usual and 'special', but regardless, I'd say that if it is usual for shark to taste like that, you might want to think twice about it.

Ammonia smell and taste is a sign of seafood gone bad. I have never eaten shark myself so I don't know what it's supposed to taste like, but If it tasted like ammonia it is very likely the shark you ate just wasn't fresh.

[GlorifiedRice]

Hendrik? I think shark , like skate, is one of those fish that have no urinary tract and pee thru their skin...Thats why the ammonia smell

[mkayahara]

Or maybe it was actually hákarl...

[Bjs229]

Hendrik? I think shark , like skate, is one of those fish that have no urinary tract and pee thru their skin...Thats why the ammonia smell

Yes. The urea in the blood is released thru the skin. That is why most shark has that ammonia flavor. I believe that there are a few species that are more tasty like the Mako. You still need to bleed them quickly so the urea doesn't turn to ammonia.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Edited by Bjs229, 06 November 2012 - 06:46 AM.

[haresfur]

I am going to probably plate it on slate.

Alex

Well, there you go - skate on slate

[Hendrik]

Hendrik? I think shark , like skate, is one of those fish that have no urinary tract and pee thru their skin...Thats why the ammonia smell

Oh I didn't know that. Is there any way to get rid of that smell? Maybe a light brine?

I have smelled ammonia on both cod and langoustines gone bad and only even thinking about it makes me feel sick. You can imagine I'm very hesitant to try a fish that has a slight smell of ammonia even it's supposed to.

Edited by Hendrik, 06 November 2012 - 08:22 AM.

[GeneMachine]

Dorade provencale would fit the bill. Robuchon has two good recipes in "The complete Robuchon". Basically grilled whole with tomatoes, garlic, onions, olives, rosemary.

[GlorifiedRice]

What about Beltfish found at Asian mkts?

Long flat, silvery and beautiful

http://sushiandpassi...-belt-fish.html

[GlorifiedRice]

BTW ^^ that is a beautiful way to present Mackeral

[Alex Parker]

Holy cow thanks everyone! Lots of different options here. Skate on Slate is hilarious. Has a nice ring to it as well! :P

I will be doing all sorts of research when I return home tonight. Again thanks for all the responses. I will be up late tonight!

Alex.