Ever since I first visited the Scottish ‘prawn’ trawl fishery in Peterhead, I’ve been fascinated by langoustines. How can such an iconic, home-caught and sustainable shellfish species, be surrendered so readily to our export markets? Such flavour, such provenance and such nutrition. Yet another shining example of a fish that is embraced so feverishly by… Read More The Tail of the Langoustine
Twice this year, I’ve rolled along the Wild Atlantic Way down to Galway City and twice I’ve been enchanted and captivated by an innate passion and sense of identity, that is not only infectious, but very hard not to be totally consumed by. Irish hospitality is, of course, legendary and comes with a charm and… Read More Food on the Edge
Since I’ve been writing, I’ve come across a few like-minded souls who, to use the old phrase are “coming off the same page” as me. Promoting seafood is one thing and the industry surrounding it is massive, but trying to forge the link between the consumer and the guys who catch, is really something else… Read More Crab Stock and 2 Smoking Lobsters
The awe-inspiring shoreline of NE Yorkshire traces a majestic sweep from Spurn Point at the mouth of the Humber, North past Flamborough Head and along the stunning strands and beaches that lie tucked into the foot of the dominating Jurassic chalk cliffs, so typical of this part of the UK’s North Sea coast. Shaped over… Read More Fighting for the Future in Filey
I’ve often spoken of the dangers that our fishermen face at sea (and on land) in their timeless pursuit of wild seafood. Indeed, with an unprecedented nine lives being tragically lost in the first half of 2016 alone (Seafish) and more life-changing accidents being recorded than the Alaskan Crab fishery, so graphically portrayed in the… Read More True Grit
I’m a huge fan of collaboration. It just works, time after time and none more so then when writing about food. When I read, the simply inspirational, Rachel Kelly’s hugely informative and fascinating article in last week’s Sunday Times, I knew straight away, literally after the first two paragraphs, I’d unearthed yet another kindred spirit,… Read More Food For Your Mood.
The Cornish fishing town of Newlyn, despite its rugged and uncompromisingly industrial facade, has played host to a panoply of artistic talent over the years. Not surprising, when you consider the rich and undeniably abundant sources of material that lie along the county’s imposing and unforgiving granite shores and amidst the mystical tor-strewn uplands of… Read More Harbouring a Talent
As many of my followers will be aware, oysters do it for me. Big time. I’ve not yet posted about the hedonistic hit that a dozen Carlingfords will dish out, but an invitation last week to sample some of our finest and most flavoursome native fish, whilst bearing witness to the crossing of embattled shucking… Read More Shucking Good Fun
Writing about our homegrown seafood and tracing its journey from the fishing grounds to the kitchen, is a pursuit that continues to enthral me in a way that really casts my other lifetime’s exploits into the shadows. Not that I’ve been dissatisfied with anything I’ve accomplished over the years, quite the contrary in fact. However,… Read More Newlyn Unwrapped
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