fishmonger

The More Things Change: Random Musings of a Fishmonger

2011-12-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

I started writing here over four years ago about seafood and fish and sustainability. The content has sometimes been personal, and at times has also served as a way of letting customers know what wares I am selling. Lets face it at the end of the day I just buy and sell dead fish in boxes. Or is it more than that? With over 20,000 visits and counting to this site I would like to believe that some good information has been shared.
I sit here today miles and years removed from many good colleagues back in New York; I remember you all well and sincerely wish you all a joyous and prosperous New Year and a Merry Christmas. Today's challenges are the same as they were those four years ago: secure the last wild food source from points distant, on routes you have little control over to clients that often don't know or don't care about real circumstances that make that desired fish unavailable.
So after a brief stint at a position I had the luxury of dressing nice and working the "9-5", here I am (to the dismay of my wife's olfactory sensibilities) back in the box.

2011-09-20T00:44:00.001-04:00

Sysco Makes Seafood Pledge to Marine Stewardship Council - MarketWatch

Fwd: Google Alert - seafood

2011-09-20T00:40:00.000-04:00

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Date: Mon, Sep 19, 2011 5:31 pm
Subject: Google Alert - seafood
To: <mbhovey@juno.com>

News

10 new results for seafood

Sysco Makes Seafood Pledge to Marine Stewardship Council
MarketWatch (press release)
HOUSTON, Sep 19, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Sysco Corporation /quotes/zigman/242525/quotes/nls/syy SYY -1.20% has pledged to assess its current seafood supply and to develop ways to improve the sustainability of its seafood-buying practices and ...
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Seafood firms fight Labor Dept. ruling
The Star Democrat
WASHINGTON Seafood industry representatives visited Capitol Hill Wednesday in hopes of changing new US Department of Labor regulations threatening to shut down local businesses. In a press release Tuesday, officials from the Coalition to Save America's ...
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Climate change boon to UK seafood
BBC News
If they do, UK consumers could see a slowly rising abundance and diversity of seafood heading on their plates. "The winners would include red mullet, grey gurnard, red gurnard, John Dory, lemon sole, dab, hake - these are all fish that you could at ...
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BBC News

Umami Sustainable Seafood Announces Receipt of $8.5M Debt Facility from AMERRA ...
MarketWatch (press release)
SAN DIEGO, September 14, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Umami Sustainable Seafood Inc. /quotes/zigman/607489 UMAM +2.38% ("Umami" or "the Company"), a holding company of fish farming operations supplying sashimi-grade Northern Bluefin Tuna to the ...
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World's Foremost Seafood Safety Assurance Adopted By Chicago Merchants
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Safe Harbor certification, the world's most comprehensive assurance of seafood safety, has been adopted by Chicagoland merchants and is now available at more than 100 Chicago-area locations, including Dominick's supermarkets. The initiative is designed ...
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Legal Sea Foods' ads catch some flak with environmentalists
USA Today
"The choice isn't between putting fish on a pedestal or eating them, it's between reforming the way we produce our seafood or irrevocably degrading our oceans." And the Natural Resources Defense Council, while unfamiliar with Legal Sea Foods' specific ...
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USA Today

Destin Seafood Festival returns to its Harbor roots
Destin Log and Walton Log
The 33rd annual Destin Seafood Festival has made its way back to its original home — the Destin harbor. The theme for this year's festival, which usually draws more than 25000 visitors annually, is "Heritage on the Harbor." The festival will be ...
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Seafood bills signed into law
South County Independent
By Iain Wilson/Independent Staff Writer NARRAGANSETT — On a blustery Tuesday afternoon in Galilee, Governor Chafee signed into law legislation that will help local fishermen target the local market and keep reeling in Rhode Island seafood off the ...
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Regional seafood marketing effort tries to overcome state lines
Press-Register - al.com (blog)
"Gulf seafood does not have a cohesive national brand," said Joanne McNeely, seafood marketing coordinator for the foundation, contrasting it with Maine lobsters or Alaska salmon and crab. What the foundation calls the Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition ...
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Fishery Products International Expands Ground-Breaking FireRoasters(TM) Line
MarketWatch (press release)
They also have a number of important nutritional benefits: both items are lower in sodium than typical prepared seafood alternatives (410 milligrams for the Citrus Peppercorn fillets and 370 mg for the Southwest fillets) and both products also provide ...
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Help Wanted: Seafood Associates

2011-09-08T08:42:00.001-04:00

Brand new facility in Hampshire, Illinois is seeking experienced cutters and packers. Above average pay. Excellent benefit package including health, paid vacation and holidays, attendance bonuses and great work environment. Daytime hours and weekends off. Call Matt Hovey to schedule an interview. 847-477-8449 cellular

Fwd: Google Alert - seafood

2011-09-08T06:30:00.001-04:00

Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

----- Forwarded message -----
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Date: Mon, Sep 5, 2011 5:31 pm
Subject: Google Alert - seafood
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News

10 new results for seafood

Anne Mazar: Look for sustainable seafood options
Milford Daily News
By Anne Mazar Our oceans, rivers and lakes provide an abundance of seafood and fresh fish as well as employment for millions worldwide. Yet, there is a global fishing crisis that is masked by sparkling blue waters and well-stocked fish markets. ...
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Seafood exporters protest US 'zeroing' in on Indian shrimp
Hindu Business Line
The Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) has demanded that the Government take the US to the World Trade Organisation over continued zeroing in on Indian shrimp exports. Indian shrimp exports continue to be battered by anti-dumping duty ...
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Hindu Business Line

High Tide on the Parkway rolls in fresh seafood flavors
Tallahassee.com
The Crab stuffed flounder is topped with cheese at High Tide Seafood Restaurant. When the tide rolls in, it brings beautiful shells that are revealed when it goes back out. Think of summer as the tide, and as it subsides into autumn, it has revealed ...
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Illness linked to meats, cheese, smoked seafood
kwgn.com
Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne illness typically linked to processed meats, unpasteurized cheeses and smoked seafood. Nine cases were reported during August, with seven of the nine cases reported since August 29. On average, Colorado has only ...
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Irene Hits Seafood Markets Hard
WNEP-TV
By Ryan Leckey Ever since Hurricane Irene walloped our area last week, some seafood specialty stores feel like they are swimming against the current. At Sebastianelli's Seafood Market in Archbald the owner said the showcases are about as bare as ...
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Fishery Products International Expands Marketing Team
MarketWatch (press release)
DANVERS, Mass., Aug 31, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Fishery Products International Inc., a leading broadline seafood provider, today announced that it has added two senior staff members to its marketing team to lead and drive key marketing initiatives. ...
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Seafood cos. depart on Asian trade mission
Mainebiz Daily
By The Mainebiz News Staff Cozy Harbor Seafood in Portland, Shucks Maine Lobster in Richmond, The Lobster Co. in Kennebunkport and Little Bay Lobster Co. in Stonington will first head to mainland China, then arrive in Hong Kong for the Asian Seafood ...
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You Asked for It: Malaysian seafood curry from Yak and Yeti at Disney World
Sun-Sentinel
The seafood could become tough. Q: I saw the recipe for Max's Grille meatloaf in your column and wondered what that savory-looking sauce was on top. It wasn't included in the recipe. — SXG, via email A: Sorry, but sometimes chefs add to a recipe at ...
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Focus on Faith: St. William's Seafood Festival
WAAY
Guntersville, AL -- An end-of-summer tradition returns to Guntersville this weekend, when St. William Catholic Church holds its 41st annual Seafood Festival at Civitan Park. The fundraiser takes place each year just before Labor Day, ...
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The 20th Annual Seafood Festival Re-scheduled for September 24th and 25th
Sayville News
The Long Island Maritime Museum and Suffolk County Parks announced today that the re-scheduled dates for the 20th Annual Seafood Festival will be Saturday and Sunday, September 24th & 25th. The event takes place on the grounds of the museum located on ...
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Fwd: Google Alert - seafood

2011-08-22T18:58:00.001-04:00

Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

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From: "Google Alerts" <googlealerts-noreply@google.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 22, 2011 5:31 pm
Subject: Google Alert - seafood
To: <mbhovey@juno.com>

News

10 new results for seafood

Grand jury: Fishermen falsified oyster catch records
Asbury Park Press
Three Delaware Bay fishermen and a seafood wholesaler who have played a role in reviving New Jersey's oyster industry are among those indicted by a federal grand jury in Camden on charges of falsifying catch records and selling illegally harvested ...
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Vendor Space Still Available: Florida Marine Flea Market and Seafood Festival
PR Newswire (press release)
22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Marine Flea Market and Seafood Festival will be held at the South Florida Fair Grounds in West Palm Beach, FL on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 16-18, 2011. Spaces to sell new, used, closed out and liquidate ...
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Mud City, Ike's grab top crab cake/seafood honors
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
By Peter Genovese/The Star-Ledger Peter GenoveseMelanie and Eric Magaziner of Mud City Crab Cake Co. in Manahawkin and Forked River are all smiles after capturing top crab cake honors. Mud City Crab Cake Co. and Bahrs Landing are as good a rivalry as ...
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The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

Year after oil spill, Gulf seafood rebounds : 2011-08-17
Washington Times
area residents at Camardelle's, a seafood restaurant, in June 2010. (Associated Press) By Stephen Dinan President Obama is doing stomach stimulus this week as he eats his way across the Midwest, but exactly a year ago he had more riding on the ...
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Washington Times

Eco-labeled seafood is not always what it seems
EurekAlert (press release)
Although unexpected, "the results are not exactly shocking," given widespread mislabeling in the seafood industry and potential profits to be made. It isn't clear who is responsible for the misleading labels, given that fish pass through many hands ...
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NC council approves lease for new boat builder
Forbes
AP , 08.22.11, 04:05 PM EDT WANCHESE, NC -- A government-managed business park for the seafood and fishing industries in North Carolina could soon have a new boat manufacturer. North Carolina's Council of State on Monday approved unanimously a land ...
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ACGT, Inc. Introduces Seafood ID™ to Provide Quick and Easy DNA ...
Genetic Engineering News (press release)
ACGT, Inc., a global leader in DNA sequencing and genomic analysis service contract industry since 1993 introduces a new Seafood ID™ service to meet the growing need for genetic identification of marine species in both the commercial seafood industry ...
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No break on seafood fest fees; organizers can 'shop elsewhere'
Seacoastonline.com
By Patrick Cronin HAMPTON — The town will not give organizers of the Seafood Festival a break on the $30811 worth of bills it sent them last year for providing services including police details and public-works equipment to support the 2 1/2 day ...
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Seafood Coop Adopts Fishing Gear Recycling Program
Atlantic Highlands Herald
MIDDLETOWN, NJ - The New Jersey Seafood Cooperative of Belford is the latest addition to the Fishing for Energy initiative, the program providing commercial fishermen a cost-free way to recycle old and unusable fishing gear. ...
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Obama's Vineyard Vacation [PHOTOS]
International Business Times
In between briefings, Obama packed in golf, time at the beach, a stop at a seafood restaurant, and a visit to a wealthy friend's seaside compound. The Obama family is spending ten days at the Blue Heron Farm, an expansive $20 million estate in the ...
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International Business Times

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Fwd: Wild Planet Sustainable Seafood Facebook Contest & Giveaway

2011-08-22T18:57:00.001-04:00

Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

----- Forwarded message -----
From: "Danielle Caldwell" <danielle@crierpr.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 22, 2011 3:41 pm
Subject: Wild Planet Sustainable Seafood Facebook Contest & Giveaway
To: <mbhovey@juno.com>

Hi Matt,

I thought you and your readers might be interested in participating in the following Facebook contest!

School is almost in session and with it brings books, pens, pencils and…brown bag lunches! We at Wild Planet Foods want you to start the year on the right “fin” with brain powering tuna, rich in Omega 3s. Thus, we are launching the Bring Your Own Lunch Photo Contest. To enter, post a picture and description of your brown bag lunch made with any Wild Planet product on Facebook. Whether it’s a sandwich, salad or any other way you enjoy the great taste and health benefits of Wild Planet at lunchtime, we’ll choose four favorites and each will win our signature insulated lunch bag and an assortment of Wild Planet products. While a picture may be worth 1,000 words, it’s also worth 1,384 mg of Omega 3s!

Submit your entry on the Wild Planet Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/wildplanetfoods. The contest runs from August 22, 2011 to August 26, 2011.

If you have any questions, or need any additional information, just let me know.

Danielle Caldwell | Crier Communications | 310.274.1072 x 214 | danielle@crierpr.com

Fwd: Join NOAA Fisheries in Celebrating Oceans Month

2011-06-05T08:22:00.001-04:00

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----- Forwarded message -----
From: "NOAA Fisheries Service" <laurel.bryant@noaa.gov>
Date: Fri, Jun 3, 2011 5:13 pm
Subject: Join NOAA Fisheries in Celebrating Oceans Month
To: <mbhovey@juno.com>

External Affairs
June 3, 2011

Oceans Month Kicks Off with Presidential Proclamation;
Featured Events Include Capitol Hill Oceans Week and Smithsonian Seafood Festival; Ocean Council Listening Sessions Begin June 9

Dear Fisheries' Stakeholders,

Today, the Obama Administration proclaimed June as National Oceans Month, recognizing that healthy oceans matter to all Americans. In part, the President's proclamation states:

"During National Oceans Month, we celebrate the value of our oceans to American life and recognize the critical role they continue to play in our economic progress, national security, and natural heritage. Waterborne commerce, sustainable commercial fisheries, recreational fishing, boating, tourism, and energy production are all able to contribute to job growth and strengthen our economy because of the bounty of our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes."

Here at NOAA Fisheries, we are really looking forward to several Washington, D.C-based events including Capitol Hill Oceans Week and the Smithsonian Sustainable Seafood Festival. On June 7, NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco will deliver the keynote address at CHOW. And, on June 9, Dr. Lubchenco will participate in a Smithsonian-sponsored panel discussion of sustainable seafood with an emphasis on the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition, on June 9 in Washington, D.C. and Alaska, the National Ocean Council will take another important step to implement the nation's first comprehensive ocean policy by launching a series of 12 public listening sessions aimed at gathering public input from the communities and economies that depend on and care for our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. As part of this process, the council also launched a month-long online public review period for strategic action plan outlines to be developed over the summer. Feedback and comments gathered through this public engagement will assist the council as it implements a new National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our coasts, and the Great Lakes.

For more information on the National Ocean Council activities, go to: www.whitehouse.gov/oceans.
To comment on the strategic action plans, go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/sap.
To find a National Ocean Council regional listening session near you, go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/05/26/share-your-ideas-national-ocean-council-listening-session-near-you

Warm Regards,

Laurel Bryant
External Affairs Director, NOAA Fisheries Communications
Laurel.Bryant@noaa.gov

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National Ocean Month

2011-06-04T10:25:00.001-04:00

Presidential Proclamation--National Oceans Month | The White House

Chicago Seafood Update

2011-05-31T10:43:00.001-04:00

Chicago Seafood Update May 31, 2011

Specials:

The Copper River Sockeye Salmon have reached epic catch levels, but with the holiday weekend we won’t be resupplied until mid-week. Prices then should be quite reasonable for fillet and whole fish.

Weather has put a damper on most other fisheries across the United States and Canada so selection has been limited. Stock items should be readily available, but special catches are scarce.

That being said we will have something new here in the form of Golden Tilefish, from Florida. Tilefish are found right at the continental shelf and are a deepwater predator with a voracious diet of small fish as well as crab, lobster and even squid. The filets will be large being cut from 5-10 lb fish should average 3-5 lbs each. Tilefish is similar to snapper and grouper and the beautiful skin is perfect to serve crispy.

Soft shelled crabs, dressed. This is the way to buy them! Why bother with all the hassle of live. We will have all sizes of Handy, fresh dressed crabs. Go ahead give ‘em a try.

We still hope to see Wreckfish and Cobia by Thursday next week.

Fresh Shrimp:

Fresh shrimp are a treat many only get to experience close to the shore. Well over 90% of all shrimp are frozen and processed in some way. You owe it to yourself and your customers to try our delicious “Blue Foot” fresh cleaned 51/50 ct shrimp. Personally I like to eat these sweet creatures raw, but I guess you could cook it too.

Wild Pacific:

Rough weather between Anchorage and Seattle has delayed our Halibut this week. We will have new fish arriving but limited from other sources. Wild salmon is available in both king and sockeye varieties.

Scientist have predicted that 2011 may be a record year for the west coast wild salmon season, and so far it looks like they might be right. They are not saying the same thing about Halibut as it is decidedly very poor.

Wild Atlantic:

Northern ground fish catches are stable if not stellar. Very little change in this category.

Wild Southern:

Fishermen are complaining about a bad year in the gulf – a recent article just highlighted some troubles with Octopus and the now closed stoned crab fishery. And another group of traders face additional charges of mislabeled fish (just for the record pangasius is not grouper). Remember if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Salmon Farmed:

Prices are down on farmed Canadian salmon this week, and there is hope that wild salmon prices may tend to drive these down even more as the season gets under way. Chilean Fillet is also available, and prices remain unchanged.

If you experienced any problems sourcing Scottish or Norwegian salmon you might think to give our premium Jail Island line of salmon a go. Sourced from the Bay of Fundy in Maritime Atlantic Canada these fish are superior.

Jail Island fillet is a good buy with pricing just slightly higher than others.

Sword and Tuna:

More in over the weekend: the moon cycle favors strong landings next week.

Frozen:

Snow Crab is readily available in all sizes with pricing stable. If you have been waiting to buy now might be the time.

Lake Fish:

Fresh whitefish prices are down on smaller sizes. Catching has been a bit erratic, with oversupply late in the weeks.

"The best fishermen I know try not to make the same mistakes over and over again;

Instead they strive to make new and interesting mistakes and to remember what they learned from them."

~ John Gierach

Bill Fish - Marlin and Sword

2011-05-18T14:54:00.001-04:00

This weeks fresh catch. (Istiophoridae) From pristine Pacific waters we have nice cuts of Marlin Loin. This wild fish is a rare treat. Similar in cut and form to swordfish loin, Marlin is a bit more delicate in taste and tenderness. Thin cuts are ideal for cooking a la plancha or in a similar style. Thicker steaks can stand up to the grill and even work well with bold seasonings like blackening or spicy tomato sauces. Marlin is wonderful if slightly undercooked, but will hold up to longer cooking. Priced just below swordfish it is a great alternative and frankly is very successfully featured seafood special that delivers high margins and lower food cost.

Sword, very nice mid Atlantic Domestic fish. We just have a few cases of fresh and firm Swordfish.

Harbingers of Spring

2011-05-18T14:53:00.001-04:00

Fried Soft-Shell Crabs with Ramps

This recipe appears in:

The Young Man & the Sea: Recipes & Crispy Fish Tales from Esca

by David Pasternack and Ed Levine, Artisan, 2007.

Serves 4

I'm very particular whom I buy my soft-shell crabs from, and you should be, too. I get mine from Tommy Crab. When you buy soft-shell crabs they shouldn't be moving around. Their backs should feel soft, like a baby's bottom. I like soft-shells fried, as they are here, or grilled. When I've sautéed them, too often they've come out oily.

8 medium or 10 small young ramps

1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups Wondra

1 cup cornstarch

1 cup whole milk

8 small to medium soft-shell crabs,

cleaned by your fishmonger

1 lemon, thinly sliced

Sherry Vinaigrette (see below)

Clean the ramps by cutting off the root ends, and cutting away the top leaves, leaving just a bit of green. Rinse under cool running water and then dry. Cut them into 1/4-inch pieces.

Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a straight-sided sauté pan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the garlic and ramps and sauté until the ramps are tender, 3 to 5 minutes (the cooking time will increase as ramp season progresses and they grow firmer). Use a slotted spoon to transfer the ramps to a bowl, and season with salt and pepper; keep warm. Discard the garlic and the oil.

In a wide shallow bowl, combine the flour with the cornstarch and season with

1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Place the milk in another shallow bowl.

Wipe the sauté pan clean with a paper towel. Add the 1/2 cup oil and heat over a medium-high flame until very hot.

Dip the crabs into the milk, and then dredge lightly in the flour mixture. Shake off the excess flour, and then repeat: soak in the milk, dredge in the flour, shake. Repeat with the lemon slices. Place the crabs in the sauté pan, top side down, along with the lemon slices—they should sizzle. Cook the crabs until they are golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the cooked crabs to a paper-towel-lined plate to cool, and season immediately with a sprinkling of salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Set out four serving plates. Drizzle the vinaigrette around each plate and place two crabs, some ramps, and a few lemon slices on each. Serve immediately.

Sherry Vinaigrette

Makes 3/4 cup

3 tablespoons sherry-wine vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 1/4 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Crab Fat - Information

2011-05-18T14:52:00.001-04:00

During these colder Spring days the Blue Crabs of the bay still have much of their reserved fat left over from Winter. This fat is yellow colored and is to be expected and often desired. It can be left in the crabs and they can be prepared as normal, or it can be removed to be used as a delicious component of another dish or sauce.

• Crab Butter: This is the white-yellow fat inside the back of the shell of a large crab. It is considered a delicacy and is often added to dressings and sauces served with crab.

Mussel Handling Procedures

2011-05-18T14:51:00.001-04:00

ALL CHEFS AND FOOD HANDLERS

PLEASE READ

***VERY IMPORTANT HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS***

THINGS ARE BEGINNING TO HEAT UP IN PARTS OF OUR DISTRIBUTION REACH. PREVENT MORTALITY IN YOUR

LIVE SHELLFISH PRODUCTS BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Keep mussels buried in ice at all times in false bottom boxes or drip pans.

Keep mussels refrigerated at all times in false bottom boxes or drip pans.

Upon arrival, the mussels should be cold, wet, and nearly closed tight. If you notice the shell is gaping open, this is normal.

Try running cold water over the mussel and you will see the mussel close- sometimes immediately, sometimes over a period

of a few minutes. If it remains wide open, the mussel has died or is dying and you should avoid consumption.

Temperature is always an important factor, however it is even more critical during this time. When mussels are ready to reproduce,

increases in temperature or rough handling will cause them to release spawn.

If you do find that the mussels have spawned, take the bags out of the boxes and immediately rinse them off with FRESH, ICE

COLD WATER. Rinse and drain the bottom of the boxes before returning the mussels to the box. Ice the mussels down

with fresh ice and keep them as close to 35 degrees F as possible.

Critical control points are:

Loading docks. Move product directly into coolers,

Hot kitchens. Keep mussels iced and in the cooler until the time of preparation.

Do not transport without ice or on non-refrigerated trucks.

Please take the time to pass this information and handling instruction on to your customers.

Information provided courtesy of American Mussel Harvestors, North Kingston, RI

Sugar Toads, What? : Blowfish Tails Check

2011-05-07T08:24:00.004-04:00

So Friday morning I am on the phone with one of the good old boy fish sellers in Maryland, and after hearing about how the Maryland DNC might be the ones "poaching" all those rock fish (wild striped bass) in ghost driftnets he finally gives me his catch list, and he just says it 'sugar toads'. So I had to look at the calendar and make sure it wasn't April 1st, because I hate to admit it but I have no idea what this is. He says "..you know theses little puffer tails". The lights go on in my head: BLOWFISH TAILS.....send me 50 lbs to sell and a couple for testing. I have to say these are one of this Fishmonger's favorite appetizing seafood specialties, and no they are not poisonous that is a different fish. I cannot wait until these jewels arrive Monday. I did a little research and it looks like they are a 'micro-trend' according to a recent article in Grubstreet declares this, who knew. So if you get the chance try some at the next chance you get. Oh yeah you can call it "Sea squab" too if you like. Here is a link to a slick site with a simple recipe, and nice photos. http://bennydoro.com/chef/recipes/pan-fried-blow-fish-tails/

Chicago

2011-05-07T08:11:00.002-04:00

With apologies to all, the Fishmonger is back. The Blogger version at least. I have been busy relocating to my new home Chicago, and taking on big challenges. I will make a new effort to start posting again and hope to be able to provide valuable information and insight into the seafood world. Thanks and see you soon.

Wild Edibles Seafood Update

2010-08-05T09:54:00.000-04:00

Good day Chefs and Buyers,

We have two really interesting local items today. The first is what is called 'tinker' mackerel, small finger sized Boston mackerel where caught right here off of Long Island, very nice, very limited, and very fun. Keeping with the petite theme we have some micro-razor clams. Averaging 3 to 4 inches each these lively razors are great raw or as a wonderful visual stopper in any number of your creations.

We just unloaded a New Jersey short trip Tuna boat and we are very pleased with the quality of the fish. Plenty of number 1 yellowfin and fatty bigeye, line caught albacore, and one 250# sword were landed within the past 24 hours and now they can be on your table too.

Massachusetts continues to see good landings despite some rough weather yesterday. Coming from those brave fishermen that went out yesterday we will have wild striped bass, fancy fluke, porgies, steaked cod, and skate.

Also available: trigger fish from North Carolina, king clip from Costa Rica, Siberian Sturgeon, and fresh Jumbo Lump Crab meat from Florida.

We will have our first shipment of Mediterranean Mussels in quite a long time. These full meat bivalves are grown in the Totten Inlet in Washington State. These are a very rich and meaty mussel for those looking for something like a "Bouchot". Call for availability, we hope to bring in more if we the demand is good.

"Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones."
~Theodore Roosevelt

Have a great day,

Matthew Hovey http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhovey
718-433-4321 ext.121 / fax 718-433-4616
"Hand picked specialties from the Seas"
www.wildedibles.com
http://sustainablefishmonger.com

Wild Edibles Seafood Update

2010-08-04T09:08:00.000-04:00

Good morning Chefs and Buyers,

Thursday we will be seeing our usual shipments from Florida. In addition to the best American red snappers and fancy day boat grouper we will have a handful of line caught large pompano (1.5 lbs+). Fresh Florida shrimp (16/20 per lb) and hand picked blue crab meat will also be available (lump and jumbo lump).

From the Pacific Northwest more wild salmon will be coming, including: Bristol bay sockeye, Vancouver B.C. coho salmon, and Columbia river king salmon. Live Dungeness crab will be in our tanks. Dungeness are considered to be one of the best crabs because of high meat to shell ratio and the unparalleled sweet flavor profile. Each crab weighs between 2-3 lbs each.

Locally we were able to source fancy still alive skate, sushi quality fluke and some day boat porgies.

Nova Scotia short trip halibut is always great fish and tonights arrivals will be as nice as always. Most of this boats catch will be in the 10-30 lb range with maybe a 40 or 50 lb fish or two.

Still available but limited: king clip, razor clam, steamer clam, silver dory fillet, fresh lobster meat, and soft shelled crayfish.

"Don't fight forces, use them."
~R. Buckminster Fuller

Have a great day,

Matthew Hovey http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhovey
718-433-4321 ext.121 / fax 718-433-4616
"Hand picked specialties from the Seas"
www.wildedibles.com
http://sustainablefishmonger.com

Wild Edibles Seafood Update

2010-08-03T09:54:00.001-04:00

Good day Chefs and Buyers,

Get your orders in on Branzini and Dorade early. Due to trucking strikes in Greece we may be tight on these fish for the rest of the week. Sardines are from Portugal and our Thursday shipment is scheduled to arrive as usual.

From Costa Rica we will have Corvina (a great bass-like fish) and king clip (head-off 5-7lbs). King clip are an eel like fish that has a fine white flesh that is a cross between cod and grouper at a very attractive price.

Chilean Turbot is back, this cold water flat fish is a prize. In rigor and with candy gills, turbot is a favorite in French and other cuisines. The firm meat cooks snow white and is good stand alone or with your favorite sauce. We like brown butter, but who doesn't?

Wellfleet petites are in the house from Massachusetts. These are small jewels, coming in around 2" with well formed cups and the concentrated sweetness of the sea. If you are a not a fan of the Wellfleet petite you haven't tried one yet.

Also available: Sturgeon, Wild King and Coho Salmon, Escolar, Whitebait, Uni trays, and fresh Belize salad shrimp.

"Angling has this distinction of its own: The very poorest man can, if he chooses, become a fisherman."

-J.P. Wheeldon

Have a great day,

Matthew Hovey http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhovey
718-433-4321 ext.121 / fax 718-433-4616
"Hand picked specialties from the Seas"
www.wildedibles.com
http://sustainablefishmonger.com

Wild Edibles Seafood Update

2010-08-02T11:07:00.000-04:00

Good morning Chefs and Buyers,

Welcome back to Monday. To start the week off right we will have wild Alaskan king salmon direct from Anchorage tonight. From the troll fishery these will be gorgeous fish. Sockeyes and Coho will also be available in limited quantities and we will also have Pacific Halibut.

Troubles in Greece are once again playing havoc with some of our shipments we only received about one third of our Monday order for these two Mediterranean fish, availability will be tight Tuesday. Our contacts in Greece say that by mid week things will be better.

Locally wild striped bass are looking like prices may be starting to come down, and there is plenty of good fluke available. Striped bass is a real menu favorite, and why not with big fillets, versatile solid yet tender meat, and a great name will drive sales at your restaurant.

Naskatucket oysters are being harvested now and can be on your raw bar Tuesday. Our friend Rod Taylor grows some of the nicest oysters on the East coast. Rich briny and loaded with the flavors that can only be found in the areas natural inlets, Naskatucket oysters are a great choice.

"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."

~Pablo Picasso

Be great,

Matthew Hovey http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhovey
718-433-4321 ext.121 / fax 718-433-4616
"Hand picked specialties from the Seas"
www.wildedibles.com
http://sustainablefishmonger.com

Wild Edibles Seafood Update

2010-07-29T09:19:00.000-04:00

Good morning Chefs and Buyers,

Big fish are in order today when it comes to some of our favorites. We are seeing new arrivals of halibut daily, from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. We have some quite large fish available (77, 85, 107, to name a few), and other fish graded 10-50 lbs are all over 20#. In addition most of the wild striped bass are Massachusetts' fish, and that will make them between 34 and 36 inches long (average weight 18#). Dayboat cod from Martha's Vineyard are beautiful and in rigor still glistening with salt water.

We have a real interesting selection of nice mid-atlantic fish as well like; Tautog (blackfish), Trigger fish (they happen to be some of the tastiest fillet you may ever eat), and for a nice hearty braise or soup try conger eel.

Todays sweet surprise are some fantastic Boston mackerel from Canada, with the Gulf stream welling up some interesting catches like this are coming from unexpected areas. Anyway these nice little fish are still in rigor, bright, and very firm.

Wild King Salmon is unavailable, but we have three other species of wild Pacific salmon are available:

http://www.alaskaseafood.org/information/species/index.html#salmon

Sockeye salmon, (ocean run 3-6 lbs), characteristic bright crimson fillets
Coho salmon, (5-7 lbs), very similar meat color to kings, a bit leaner
Keta/Silverbright salmon (headed and gutted 6 # average), the sleeper of the bunch, value priced begs your creative interpretation.

Many new east coast oysters tonight: Wellfleet (petites), Malpeque, Beau Soleil, Naskatuckets, and Pine Islands.

"His planet is covered with sordid men who demand that he who spends time fishing shall show returns in fish."

~Leonidas Hubbard, Jr http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_Hubbard

All the best,

Matthew Hovey http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhovey
718-433-4321 ext.121 / fax 718-433-4616
"Hand picked specialties from the Seas"
www.wildedibles.com
http://sustainablefishmonger.com

Wild Edibles Seafood Update

2010-07-28T09:38:00.000-04:00

We often hear requests for something different, so we have dedicated our efforts to offer some interesting options for Thursday.

Try one of these...

Yellow eye snapper (2-4 lbs)

Conger Eel

Trigger fish

Sturgeon

http://seafoodshop.blogspot.com/2008/03/siberian-sturgeon.html

Also available: Escolar, wild salmon ( sockeye, silverbright, coho, steelhead ), whiting, cod, striped bass, et. al.

"On the other hand, you have different fingers."
~Steven Wright

All the best,

Matthew Hovey http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhovey
718-433-4321 ext.121 / fax 718-433-4616
"Hand picked specialties from the Seas"
www.wildedibles.com
http://sustainablefishmonger.com

Wild Edibles Seafood Update

2010-07-27T09:22:00.000-04:00

Good day Chefs and Buyers,

We hope everyone is enjoying the break from the heat. How about some cool seafood offerings to go along with the nice summer vibe?

Below we have listed just a few of our extensive inventory offerings.

Local Specialties:

Skate and Monk from Portland, ME
Wild Striped Bass from Martha's Vineyard, MA
Fluke and Tile from Montauk, NY

Pacific West Coast Specialties:

Wild King and Sockeyes from Bristol Bay, AK
Wild Steelhead and Silverbright Salmon from Vancouver Island, BC
Live Dungeness Crabs from Queen Charlotte Sound, BC

Sustainable Options:

Siberian Sturgeon from Mote Aquaculture, FL
Copper Shoals Redfish from Silver Streak Farms, TX
Barramundi from Australis, MA

Just for fun:

Wahoo from Hawaii
Escolar from Costa Rica
Local Jersey Albacore Tuna
Florida Mangrove and Pink snappers
Chilean Turbot

"The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake."
~Meister Eckhart

Kind regards,

Matthew Hovey http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhovey
718-433-4321 ext.121 / fax 718-433-4616
"Hand picked specialties from the Seas"
www.wildedibles.com
http://sustainablefishmonger.com

Wild Edibles Seafood Update

2010-07-26T09:47:00.000-04:00

Good morning Chefs and Buyers,

The air is cool the moon is full and the fishing is good. Monday brings new shipments to our warehouse from all points of the compass. With this kind of variety, surely something will get your culinary juices flowing.

Late last week a large swath of the Gulf of Mexico was reopened to fishing, and Tropical Storm Bonnie came into the area with very little intensity. Our sourced boats arrived into port this weekend with a nice mixed bag of fish.

Grouper, black and red are both available (both are in the 5-10 lb range)
American Red Snappers (mostly 2-4 lbs, call for other sizes)
Florida Pink Snapper (similar to Tai or NZ Pinks, mostly 1-2 lbs)
Cobia, wild and line caught

For something different and tasty we have farmed redfish (red drum) from a very good operation in Texas. Copper Shoals Redfish are free from hormones, antibiotics and fed a natural diet. Each fish is a near perfect 2 lbs each with rich firm juicy flesh, they would be great salt baked and are sturdy enough to take on bold flavors and the grill.

TEXAS REDFISH

From the Carolinas we have in sustainable and tasty Wreckfish, a small shot of wahoo, and a small blacktip shark.

Dover Sole prices continue to skyrocket, we still have a few brave takers on the fresh. We do offer a high quality frozen Dover sole as well.

Fresh sardines from Portugal arrive tonight.

Also available: fancy dayboat Massachusetts cod, monk, striped bass, and skate.

"The true triumph of reason is that it enables us to get along with those who do not possess it."

~Voltaire

Have a great day,

Matthew Hovey http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhovey
718-433-4321 ext.121 / fax 718-433-4616
"Hand picked specialties from the Seas"
www.wildedibles.com
http://sustainablefishmonger.com

Wild Edibles Seafood Update

2010-07-22T09:18:00.000-04:00

Good day Chefs and Buyers,

West Coast halibut has been a relative bust this year so we have been relying on Atlantic halibut to make up the shortfall. The good news is the east coast halibut are really nice. On the other hand limited volume of halibut in general has chased the price up for good fish.

In Massachusetts fishing has been pretty good, and despite onshore temperature extremes offshore temperatures have been described as pleasant. Jumbo fluke are beautiful and fresh, we are buying from dayboats out of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. In addition these same boats are catching Jumbo black sea bass, porgies, and monk. For something out of the ordinary we are bringing in large ocean perch. These generally under appreciated fish are a great value in a fine eating white flesh fish with a orange skin that crisps nicely.

From North Carolina fancy golden tile, Wreckfish (aka stone bass), bluefish and Spanish mackerel are available Friday.

Florida boats are continuing to land very nice American Red Snapper. There are lots of other varieties of snapper but nothing compares to the distinct white sweet tender flake, and the easy to crisp red skin of the American red. The pride of the domestic gulf fishery these fish are available in a range of sizes: 1-2, 2-4. and 4+lbs. Grouper, pompano, and fresh shrimp will also be arriving tonight.

Soft shell crabs are in limited supply. We anticipate little to no arrivals of hotel or prime sized crabs, and Jumbo's may fall short of demand. We will make every effort to cover your orders, but please call us today as it will be first come first served.

From our Pacific Northwest friends sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon (kings), and live Dungeness crabs are available. We also offer the best sub zero frozen at sea black cod, spot prawns and octopus.

"If you don't love life you can't enjoy an oyster; there is a shock of freshness to it and intimations of the ages of man, some piercing intuition of the sea and all its weeds and breezes. [They] shiver you for a split second."

~Eleanor Clark quotes

We have lots of great oysters including: Beau Soleil, Pipes Cove, Canada Cup, Salvation Cove, Malpeque, Cortez Island, Kusshi, Kumomoto, Hama Hama, Little Skookum and many more.

Have a great day,

Matthew Hovey http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhovey
718-433-4321 ext.121 / fax 718-433-4616
"Hand picked specialties from the Seas"
www.wildedibles.com
http://sustainablefishmonger.com