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Post by fatcat on Jul 31, 2011 20:12:16 GMT
Can anyone tell me why there is not a better, selection & supply of fresh 'seafood' on Halki, we have just returned fron Cyprus and whilst the island left us 'wanting' somewhat - the seafood selection and it's quality was first rate. I know the local fishermen come in each morning and sell their catch and the restaurants can only sell what the sea provides which is fair and understandable. But I'm sure there is a fish market on Rhodes every day and with the number of ferries running a good selection could be achieved each and every day ...................... and it would still be 'fresh'. Now, I'm not a great fish lover, but the seafood we found in Cyprus has made me think again when I see seafood on a menu, sometimes it's nice to have a change from meat. Over and out
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Post by Liz on Jul 31, 2011 20:50:56 GMT
Mmmm we have always had a good selection of fish on Halki , obviously some caught some 'brought in' , we have on occasion put in our our order a day or two in advance , the shrug of the shoulders let's you know ! ... But I have to say , honestly ... Shoot me now ! .. It's the randomness of the price that stops me ordering ! .. It can be flipperdedipp a kilo but when the bill comes it's 30€ ! .. it is one of the things that puzzles me too .. Maybe Kinygos can explain further ... ( in small words )
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2011 21:06:44 GMT
He's having his beauty sleep
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Post by Kinygos on Aug 1, 2011 5:12:46 GMT
Here goes!
Greek fish strange; not cod. Greek fish have heads and bones; not like fish fingers. Greek prawns have legs. Like see strange fish; buy pork chop. Restaurant can’t sell; don’t buy! Better catch your own.
In slightly longer words: Consider your mindset. I give you two options. Shall I have chicken, pork, minced beef, lamb, or fish? Shall I have gilthead, bass, dorado, barracuda, red bream, black bream, bogues, atherina, squid, octopus, shrimp, prawns, or meat?
Oh, and the price. The cost of wild fish has to reflect the fuel and upkeep of the boat and the scarcity of the fish.
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Post by fatcat on Aug 1, 2011 12:51:22 GMT
Understood most of that However, it does not explain why the fish markets are not used, prices 'may' be a tad lower in the market as opposed to individual fishing boats but the variety will be far greater. It probably is a case of 'simple' economics...... //supply & demand// Seems like a no brainer to me. Thats why I'm an engineer I suppose
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Post by Kinygos on Aug 1, 2011 14:54:19 GMT
Sorry if I was too flippant, I was responding to the “short words”.
The first problem with fish is it is not as durable as meat. Before I go catch and keep fishing (trout in the UK; sea fish in Halki) I take a means of chilling the catch. Frozen block in the UK, two bags of ice from Tariel on Halki. The fish get banged on the head and go straight in. I have been out on a couple of local boats and the catch, usually dead in the net or on the longline is left on the deck in the sun. The guys who supply Rodos I suspect use ice, or I hope so. There is variety on Halki as mentioned in my list. The giltheads and the bass are farmed and will have been iced. The restaurants buy them and have to sell them to tourists. They put them in their displays on ice, but they have not yet been gutted which also shortens their shelf life. The said tourist love to look at the “weird fish” but do not buy because they are expensive, unfamiliar, unfilleted, and they look like fish! There is your supply and demand. There is a lot of wastage. They eat it themselves instead of selling it. Let me give you a perfect example. Asia’s place used to offer “fish soup”. It was the classic fisherman’s soup “Kakavia”. Potatoes, onions in a broth, and poached on top, a red scorpion fish looking at you. It was delicious. Most others who ordered fish soup were horrified. All I ever left was a pile of bones! I am not sure what you mean by fish markets, on Halki everything is sold off the boats. Supply and demand now means that they mostly go for small red shrimp, which turns a better profit. There is a fish shop on the outskirts of Kremasti where I buy fish for home consumption. It is called “Halki Fish” and is run by Christos; Theodosia’s brother. Price per Kilo is <€7 for fresh sardines, scad and bogue <€10 for farmed gilthead and bass, €25< for grouper, red bream etc.
As a matter of interest do you know the species and prices on Cyprus?
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Post by Kinygos on Aug 1, 2011 15:12:52 GMT
Pardon my discourtesy! Open invite for you if you want a trip to catch your own!
Otherwise to join in with the ladies if we get a "Halki Visiting Sportfishing Team" feast organised, subject to the approval of L & C of course! Ideally Jack and/or dorado, otherwise smoked little tunny with sushi trimings and drinks.
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Post by fatcat on Aug 1, 2011 15:56:47 GMT
Thanks for the offer, but we have only 7 days on Halki this year and to spend a day rocking back and forth on the stormy seas trying to catch a fish is low on our priority list............... Shall speak to Jane as to what fish we ate on Cyprus, price was not too bad really, but I discovered the delights of freshly caught Kalamari, we also ate fresh river trout caught up in the Troudo mountains - that again was a delight.
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Post by Kinygos on Aug 1, 2011 16:10:40 GMT
Lest anyone is worried.
I don't do fishing in stormy seas!
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Post by sheilaporter8 on Aug 1, 2011 19:02:22 GMT
We dined almost exclusively on fish whilst we were there for 2 weeks last month. We had a fantastic Scorpion fish at Babis between the two of us and also ate grilled bream at Kiki's many times as well as large prawns and the usual swordfish and tuna. If we saw Lefkosia meeting the fishing boats that's where we went for dinner! I don't think that I found fresh fish any more expensive than I would expect to pay in resturants around the coastal areas of South Wales where we live.
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Post by fatcat on Aug 1, 2011 20:27:50 GMT
One evening we had a fish Meze and from a hazy memory it was, Sardines, cuttle fish, Kalamari, Octopus, Sea Bream, mussels, prawns, Squid + other bits and pieces All very fresh and very appertising - all for 22 Euros each.
Supermarket - we bought some gigantic Shark steaks for about 3 Euros (BBQ fodder) each Sea Bream in the supermarket was circa 4 Euro
Prices all very hazy, not one for remembering prices, just tend to pay, pack the bags and unpack in the kitchen (I know my place...).
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Post by Liz on Aug 1, 2011 21:24:25 GMT
I love Kalamari and my favourite is at Pondamos , Has always been lovely
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Post by sunfun on Aug 2, 2011 13:30:47 GMT
We're not really fish lovers,but the crab salad at pondamos is truly delicious...m-m-m my mouth is watering. ...oh and the chips are fab too!
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Post by Di on Aug 2, 2011 17:44:33 GMT
On the few occasions that I've ordered fish in Greece, it's never quite turned out to be quite what I expected. The kalamari in Lesvos turned out to be a whole squid, complete with tentacles which looked like someone had pumped it up (even the cat turned it's nose up at it). My sea bass in Finikounda looked more like a sea perch or bream, and my red mullet in Haraki was that carbonised it was hard to say what it looked like (charcoal ). Consequently, I tend to stick to things that look over fences although I'm sure I'm missing out
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