Fishy

How do you have high cholesterol after 30 years of veg???

Ben_Dover said :

Poetix, would love to read your story; onanhag at gmail dot com

My reasons? I’d been vege for 30 years, but several circumstances came together to corrupt me.

1) Going to “The Fat Duck”. Even though they would have catered to me as a vege, I felt I wouldn’t be getting the whole deal. So I opted for “Piscatarian.” (We met Heston!!)
2) Need for fish oil. I have been diagnosed with high (very high) cholesterol, and need to take fish oil supplements.
3) My wife’s cooking. My wife is a fantastic, brilliant, wonderful cook. (Amongst her multitude of wonderful qualities.) Her having the option to do fish dishes gives her a broader palate to work from.
4) Protein. As part of my new “healthy” lifestyle I have upped my exercise routine. I have used whey protein in the past, and still do. But high quality fish protein is very useful.
5) Before becoming a vege I was a very keen fisherman, I have always loved fish.
6) Time to put me first.

Just so this doesn’t get lost!!

Please, hive mind, name me, in terms of fish dishes, your favourite;

– Chippy:

– Indian restaurant / takeaway:

– Other ethnicity restaurant / takeaway:

– Fine Dining:

– Wet fish shop:

Yes, clear eyes and red gills are my reference points for freshness.

The places in Fyshwick and Belco markets are great but the eyes seem to be clouded too often, which is understandable on a Sunday but less so on a Thursday.

Costco do quiet good salmon, I haven’t tried the other fish.

I never thought I would say this but the mega Coles in Gungahlin has some of the freshest fish I’ve seen, unless they use Visene on the fish eyes. 🙂

I concur that Fish Face makes pretty damn good F&C

The rest – the classic steamed barramundi with ginger and shallots is pretty damn good at The Scholar and the fish is murdered at your request so it’s pretty fresh.

smilesr said :

Please refer to this website http://www.sustainableseafood.org.au/Sustainable-Seafood-Guide.asp?active_page_id=702 for what to buy when you are trying to choose fish. It’s very handy when you are confronted by different names and species and to how they are being caught.
Snapper for instance is overfished.

Thanks. It is something I think of when buying fish. But I did have some questions about some of the advice on that page. They seem to automatically reject most farmed fish? I try to make an effort to buy farmed because it prevents overfishing. Their reasons for deterring people from buying farmed seem a bit too general. I mean, do we really care if a Tasmanian salmon farmed in Tassie escapes its cage?

I do only buy Australian though. I see no need to go import seafood when there’s so much here.

And I will avoid anything that is being overfished.

smilesr said :

Please refer to this website http://www.sustainableseafood.org.au/Sustainable-Seafood-Guide.asp?active_page_id=702 for what to buy when you are trying to choose fish. It’s very handy when you are confronted by different names and species and to how they are being caught.
Snapper for instance is overfished.

or get their app on your smart phone – very handy while standing at their counter… 🙂

sea mullet is about at the moment and is ‘better’ on the app… [as opposed to ‘think’ or ‘no’]

Please refer to this website http://www.sustainableseafood.org.au/Sustainable-Seafood-Guide.asp?active_page_id=702 for what to buy when you are trying to choose fish. It’s very handy when you are confronted by different names and species and to how they are being caught.
Snapper for instance is overfished.

I’ve been very happy with the whole snapper I’ve bought at Costco – definitely fresh. Also very happy with salmon from Aldi in Civic.

I heard Cold Seas has closed?

The Fishos at the Fyshwick and Belconnen markets sell a great variety of fish. Much of it is quite fresh. You need to have your wits about you to tell how fresh it is.
If you’re uncertain, it’s safer to buy farmed fish such as trout, which comes in regular planned deliveries.
I judge the freshness of a fish by its eyes – clear means fresh, cloudy means not so fresh.
Fillets should be plump, glossy and moist.
How do other Rioters judge fishy freshness?

Ben_Dover said :

Holden Caulfield said :

Ben_Dover said :

6) Time to put me first.

Were you forced into vegetarian by the knife of the unspoken underbelly Vegetarian Vigilantes or something? I hear they’re quite a forthright bunch.

Not at all, I’m just a wonderful warm humane person, who self sacrifices….

or at least I was….

Haha, good for you.

In the spirit of your new found willingness to shift the sacrifice may I suggest you have a nice juicy steak!

chippy at watson shops is quite good – and they sell beer!

rama’s is great, jehangir is equally excellent (rama’s is fijian indian, jehangir is indian all the way)

there are many restaurant threads – do a search, is my advice. personally, tasuke in civic interchhange is excellent, authentic japanese and not expensive; tak kee roast duck [emporium?] in dickson is brilliant; sage at gorman house] is one of the ultimate dining experiences in canberra [won’t rival fat duck of course!] and lanterne rooms [campbell shops] is delicious; mezzalira in west civic and its sister italian & sons in braddon are excellent italian; and the two sisters thai in dickson does a great sweet and sour fish.

i get fish from fishy at city markets or belconnen markets.

I love my fish. But I must admit that I am a bit suspicious about the freshness at most seafood shops.

I do occasionally go to the Belco one. I love their vacuum packed mussels (not fish, I know) and I love cooking fish whole too. And I find it easier to confirm it’s fresh when it’s a whole fish too.

I’ve heard good things about Cold Seas in Fyshwick, but I only went there once myself, years ago.

Always good to find out when they get their deliveries.

But we mostly eat frozen fish these days. The Birdseye salmon is pretty darn good.

Holden Caulfield said :

Ben_Dover said :

6) Time to put me first.

Were you forced into vegetarian by the knife of the unspoken underbelly Vegetarian Vigilantes or something? I hear they’re quite a forthright bunch.

Not at all, I’m just a wonderful warm humane person, who self sacrifices….

or at least I was….

Ben_Dover said :

6) Time to put me first.

Were you forced into vegetarian by the knife of the unspoken underbelly Vegetarian Vigilantes or something? I hear they’re quite a forthright bunch.

johnboy said :

Fish Shack in Civic is pretty good when I’ve been

I heartily agree. I’m a bit of regular and there’s only been once where I was disappointed. Things were put right next visit though.

The fish’n’chips from the fish shop on the corner of Fyshwick Markets is the only other decent option I’ve come across in Canberra.

Have tried the Charnwood joint that gets a few mentions and it was okay, but for me, not as good as the two options I just mentioned.

Poetix, would love to read your story; onanhag at gmail dot com

My reasons? I’d been vege for 30 years, but several circumstances came together to corrupt me.

1) Going to “The Fat Duck”. Even though they would have catered to me as a vege, I felt I wouldn’t be getting the whole deal. So I opted for “Piscatarian.” (We met Heston!!)
2) Need for fish oil. I have been diagnosed with high (very high) cholesterol, and need to take fish oil supplements.
3) My wife’s cooking. My wife is a fantastic, brilliant, wonderful cook. (Amongst her multitude of wonderful qualities.) Her having the option to do fish dishes gives her a broader palate to work from.
4) Protein. As part of my new “healthy” lifestyle I have upped my exercise routine. I have used whey protein in the past, and still do. But high quality fish protein is very useful.
5) Before becoming a vege I was a very keen fisherman, I have always loved fish.
6) Time to put me first.

Just so this doesn’t get lost!!

Please, hive mind, name me, in terms of fish dishes, your favourite;

– Chippy:

– Indian restaurant / takeaway:

– Other ethnicity restaurant / takeaway:

– Fine Dining:

– Wet fish shop:

Pork Hunt said :

Fairly sure you can get quality fresh fish at Fyshwick or Belco markets especially Thu or Fri…

No you cannot. It’s old and gross. Far from fresh.

My dear Sir,

I would be fascinated to hear your reasons for going all fishy. I have actually written a short story on this subject (a long term vego returning to fish, via the oyster route, in one of my infrequent experiments in prose) and would be most happy to send you a copy, if you contact me through the Private Message facility. However, as you are not yet a Premium Subscriber, I do not know if you can avail yourself of this facility.

Personally, I see no distinction between fish and meat. I would love to hear the why of this, rather than help you with the mere how, of which I know little, still eschewing fish.

But not vodka, as the above missive probably makes clear.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas, and offer my sincere hopes that your endeavours with the camera do not cease with the end of 2012?

Best wishes

poetix

johnboy said :

Fish Shack in Civic is pretty good when I’ve been

Since it got a mention, and I didn’t want unwanted attention by opening a new thread just for it, I thought I should throw in this experience with The Fish Shacks (TFS).

So a friend and I decided to lunch at this place again, as we previously had good experience with them. Friend and I both ordered The Shack Basket.

Mine seemed fine but my friend’s basket seemed to lack the soft crab. My friend, at his usual best, shared his concern with the staff.

Before we knew it staff brought out a whole basket of fried soft crab and apologies.

Great service? Owner’s dedication to customer satisfaction (he was present in the kitchen)?

Whichever way, we definitely (defiantly?) will be keeping TFS on our list of places to lunch.

Had beautiful quite spicy steamed fish and tofu from a new Chinese place on University Ave today. Great restaurant, very congenial owner, and fed three handsomely for under $60. Can’t recall the name, but it’s next to Thai Bliss massage place, incidentally my fave massage place of all time – try the 60 min Thai massage, works wonders, although not straight after a Chinese meal!

Best wet fish…either the big place at Fyshwick, or the place on the other side of the markets….Blue Seas?

Chippy? Not a chance in Canberra. The one at the yacht club is a nice spot but average food.

Fairly sure you can get quality fresh fish at Fyshwick or Belco markets especially Thu or Fri…

With a moniker like yours I find it hard to believe you haven’t been eating meat

Ooh I love these.

– Chippy: in Canberra, none that I’m aware of. That joint in Bateman’s Bay is exceptional.
– Indian restaurant / takeaway: Rama’s. Nothing comes close.
– Other ethnicity restaurant / takeaway: Thai House, Weston. I’m sure there are better ones.
– Fine Dining: Maestral in Weston. It’s great!
– Wet fish shop: Uh.. that place in Belco mall.. that’s now gone. Dunno.