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 I
read your book and you discuss how to tell if fish is fresh, but
you assume that the fish will be whole. How can you tell when buying
fillets at the supermarket?
Jane B., Lincoln, NE
How sweet
of you to say that you've read my book. I don't believe you for
a moment, of course, but it's still sweet. As to fish, it is a sad
fact of this new century that people seem to prefer that their food
bear as little resemblance to anything that may once have been alive
as possible. Hence the colorful array of fish bits at supermarkets.
Still, there are a few simple signs that will tell you if your piscine
article is fresh. The most straight forward, of course, is that
it shouldn't be dried up. This may sound obvious, but I have noticed
more than one fish counter in a supermarket displaying very sorry
looking examples that are clearly discolored and dry at the edges.
I would advise never buying fish from such an emporium. So the first
task is probably to find a store in which the display itself looks
fresh and appetizing. The fish should be wet (but not too wet -
beware shops that spray their fish!), and the flesh should have
a pleasing translucence. It should be firm to the touch and should
not smell of anything. A "fishy" smell is a sure sign that the fish
is past its best. These last two are a little difficult to ascertain,
as most shops discourage pawing of the fish and meat by customers.
Obviously, if you can find an actual fishmongers, where the fish
is laid out whole on slabs, you will be much better off.
I was invited
to a dinner party at a friend's house recently. When I arrived I
informed the host that I was a vegetarian, but when the meal arrived
there was hardly anything I could eat. Doesn't common politeness
dictate that a host should try to accommodate any special requirements
of their guests?
Alison F., San Francisco, CA
Were you raised
by wolves? Common politeness, my dear, first dictates that anyone
with special dietary restrictions inform the host some days prior
to the dinner party. It is totally unreasonable to announce your
eating habits on arrival. By that time all the food has been bought,
and, in all probability, already prepared. You should consider yourself
lucky to have been offered anything at all; I should have booted
you out of the front door.
Read
last week's column here.
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