May 19, 2015 - Radio Kitchen - Fish from the Bay
Shopping this time of year for fresh Maryland produce is a pleasure. Spring brings us broccoli, cabbage, asparagus and tons of herbs and greens. A lot of us are thinking light, and finding a suitable protein for the plate couldn't be easier. So while we are composing brilliant variations on the theme of spring vegetables, we can dip into the Bay for suitable partners.
Of course the old Bay standbys are always with us, the rockfish and the perch. But there are several other fish that are (unfortunately) quite plentiful.
The northern snake fish, a nasty invasive species that became notorious as the "Frankenfish" is becoming alarmingly widespread. The irony is that the fish apparently is rather good to eat. But buying them is a problem. They are rare, and oddly enough, expensive.
Far more palatable, in all senses, is the invasive blue catfish. This traveler from the South is quite happy in the Chesapeake, and authorities are quite happy to let folks catch them to their heart's content. The upshot is that the blue catfish is far tastier than its muddy cousin. These fish are easy to find, and are at our better grocery stores.
Finally, the shad is making a comeback. This sweet, but boney fish, was on the ropes for a while, but is now becoming somewhat plentiful. Spring is the season of the shad run, and the time to best enjoy shad roe.
