Re: Food Thread : Sun Jul 07, 2013 3:37 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

I have only twice knowingly eaten shark, once was Scarborough woof, that was bloody awful and had a really strong "fishy" flavour ... and once was just generically called "shark" ... that one was a little more meaty, like a watery version of halibut in texture, as though it had been frozen and not properly cooked.
Possibly experiences that should be put down to poor chef-fing, I don't know, but enough to put me off.

If you've ever eaten rock salmon, you've eaten shark, it's the Greater Spotted Dogfish (or Bull Huss) and sometimes Spurdog. Spurs are now protected, so any rock salmon will invariable be huss. The major problem with all selachii (shark & ray) is a lack of bladder means that when caught, they stress and urine is released into the muscles, leading to an amonia smell & flavour. The easiest way to get shut of this is by freezing. The angel shark has been protected in the UK since 2008

Re: Food Thread : Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:08 pm  

I've eaten shark once in the south of France - wasn't overly impressed, but I have nothing to compare it with, so don't know whether the cooking was an issue. Very much like monkfish (or whatever it is ). Long, slow cook for a piece of monkfish.

I've eaten shark once in the south of France - wasn't overly impressed, but I have nothing to compare it with, so don't know whether the cooking was an issue. Very much like monkfish (or whatever it is ). Long, slow cook for a piece of monkfish.

Re: Food Thread : Sun Jul 07, 2013 5:00 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

If you've ever eaten rock salmon, you've eaten shark, it's the Greater Spotted Dogfish ....

Yup, forgot that one, I had "rock and chips" from a chippie that used to be at the bottom of Tottenham Court Road (*).
It was pretty awful too, and very "fishy", too strong a flavour for a delicate chap like me who was used to Haddock with his chips.


(*) There used to be a row of fast food takeaways in single-storey shack-style buildings opposite the Dominion Theatre, now all demolished and redeveloped decades ago. (Anyone remember them?)
All were universally awful, I had only myself to blame.

Re: Food Thread : Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:09 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

Yup, forgot that one, I had "rock and chips" from a chippie that used to be at the bottom of Tottenham Court Road (*).
It was pretty awful too, and very "fishy", too strong a flavour for a delicate chap like me who was used to Haddock with his chips.


(*) There used to be a row of fast food takeaways in single-storey shack-style buildings opposite the Dominion Theatre, now all demolished and redeveloped decades ago. (Anyone remember them?)
All were universally awful, I had only myself to blame.

Stick to goatboy's maxim and you won't go far wrong: "never buy fish & chips from anywhere that sells anything other than fish & chips"

Re: Food Thread : Sun Jul 07, 2013 7:36 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

Stick to goatboy's maxim and you won't go far wrong: "never buy fish & chips from anywhere that sells anything other than fish & chips"

I do indeed adhere very firmly to that adage.
Although sandwiched between a variety of fast food places, it was deffo a chippie.
But it was a London chippie, therein lies the flaw, decent chippies in London are an endangered species.

Re: Food Thread : Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:02 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

I do indeed adhere very firmly to that adage.
Although sandwiched between a variety of fast food places, it was deffo a chippie.
But it was a London chippie, therein lies the flaw, decent chippies in London are an endangered species.

I always make a point of seeking out Italian, Greek or (IMO), the very best, Jewish chippies. The latter still seem to use beef dripping but as you say, they are truly an endangered species

Re: Food Thread : Sun Jul 07, 2013 10:24 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

Yup, forgot that one, I had "rock and chips" from a chippie that used to be at the bottom of Tottenham Court Road (*).
It was pretty awful too, and very "fishy", too strong a flavour for a delicate chap like me who was used to Haddock with his chips.


(*) There used to be a row of fast food takeaways in single-storey shack-style buildings opposite the Dominion Theatre, now all demolished and redeveloped decades ago. (Anyone remember them?)
All were universally awful, I had only myself to blame.

Was one of them a pub called the Blue Posts?

Re: Food Thread : Mon Jul 08, 2013 1:39 pm  

Dally wrote:

Was one of them a pub called the Blue Posts?

Not that I recall, the establishments were only single storey with only enough space for the food prep, the counter and a queuing space.
This was early 1970's.
They weren't exactly opposite the Dominion but a little further up Tottenham Ct Rd, just checked on Streetview and I think they'd be where Boots and Specsavers are now.

Re: Food Thread : Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:51 pm  

Corned Beef hash in it's simplest form tonight.
We aint fannying about with onions, herbs and the like.

Spuds, peeled, chopped, on to boil.
Princes tin of corned beef, opened with key and roughly chopped.
Take spuds off heat before going too soft, add butter and drop of milk.
Mash half way through then add corned beef, mash and amalgamate together with a liberal sprinkling of salt and white pepper.
Place large dollop on plate.
Warm through tin of baked beans and pour over top of dollop.

BINGO!

Re: Food Thread : Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:37 pm  

Dally wrote:

Was one of them a pub called the Blue Posts?

Yup, wooden one storey shack, crap beer and even worse food.
There is (or was) a Sainsburys there now.