As a little kid growing up in a devout Catholic household, we ate fish on Friday.
Now, I grew up in Kansas, so our choices were pretty limited and a challenge to my mother's considerable culinary skills. She worked wonders with tun noodle casserole. Then there were the new innovations in frozen food - fish sticks and cod cakes. Ah! Cod cakes! I really hated them - broke off little pieces and mashed them uo the undersurface of the dining room table.
As an adult, I never tried cod. Then, last night at The Chatham Squire in downtown Chatham, I was coaxed into trying real, fresh, slept in the Atlantic last night cod fish. And
Oh!
My!
God!
It was fresh and baked with a light lemony winey sauce. It was so good!
Now I'm thinking of all the other foods that I didn't favor as a child and don't eat now - lima beans, brussels sprouts - and maybe it wasn't the veggies but the companies that put them into little frozen boxes.
Maybe a trip to the farmers market is in order! And cod, at least fresh cod, is being elevated from avoid to eat whenever you get the chance! Especially at The Chatham Squire. I gotta buy a t-shirt!
Patricia, Isn't it so wonderful when you find something like that out. Unfortunately, then you realize how much you may have missed. Love brussel sprouts as well, especially when after boiling, you saute them in garlic and butter. They're really just like small little cabbages and so dang tasty.
You should try Orange Roughy (broiled with butter and lemon) - it's the best fish in the world.
I love cod...we used to have it deep fried in batter from the Fish and Chip shops in the UK growing up...nothing like it!!!
Mrs. Paul's fish sticks rocked as a kid................ ahhhh the memories
Patricia, my Dad use to take us down to the Gulf Coast for holiday and he introduced me to "Red Snapper". OMG....it's like my total favorite and the only reason to ever visit Texas.....humidity....but it gave me a love for good fish. We ate at the "Beam Reach" in Kaui and I had the "Mahi Mahi" of my entire life. Welcome abord to the fish appreciating world!
Now you've made me hungry :-) There is nothing like fresh fish, lightly cooked (either broiled or sauteed or whatever!)
Pat, I think we should re-visit childhood tastes we didn't like. Your example proves that we may have changed. It's good to keep exploring in life.
Pat,
Living on the west coast we get great fish and shell fish. My favorite fish is still salmon. Also love mussels and oysters, and clams and crabl.
Hi Pat,
I believe our tastes change as we "mature"....I know I like things now that I would not eat as a child.
Fish is best fresh out of the water, not frozen in a box!
NOTHING beats fresh fish! I have to agree with that!!!! I grew up Catholic with a father that hated fish........now THAT was fun!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHA Mashed little pieces under the table! That cracked me up! I have been pretty open to all foods all my life - I guess i am lucky. My son, however - not so lucky! I make him eat everything - get's pretty dramatic at times!
Patricia, you need to get back and do research. I remember the little school I attended who served fish every Friday. Looking back now I wonder why they did that. Being a protestant southern area with nary a Catholic church anywhere around, why was that done? You made me go back and wonder.
Patricia,
What's even scarier is to compare what we call 'tuna fish' from a can to blackened redfin or yellowfin tuna steak!!! ??? Thanks, Fran
Oh, the memories floating through the mind of this Catholic girl who grew up in Northern Illinois!
To this day, my parents do not eat meat on Fridays. Any Friday, not just during lent. I'm not that loyal!
Pat - Cod is not bad cooked certain ways and fresh (not frozen). But I do not have fond memories of it growing up either, especially in an Italian family where Christmas Eve consisted of the traditional 7 fishes. Cod fish is Baccalà. It is considered the poor man's fish. So, it became the holiday tradition - not because it was cheap and that was what we could afford but for my imigrant grandparents who weathered the depression Cod symbolized where they came from!
Try some cod fillets rolled in mayonaise, then coated with crushed up sour cream and onion potato chips then baked. I know it's not a fine dining experiance, but it sure works out well in a toaster oven for a quick snack! With that being said, I'm off to go eat some fish sticks and see if my taste buds can find even a hint of something good, besides the bread.
Thats so true how our tastes change over a lifetime................things we loved.............we forgotten...........and replaced...........things that were untouchables are now favorites............It really can be a culinary adventure to re-experiment........to take on new taste sensatons........you could travel around the world............just be that alone!