When we were in Saint Jean de Luz last September we naturally visited the fish market. It's impressive with a good range of fish. Obviously scrupulously clean and the fish are as fresh as they can be as there is no fishy odour at all. We didn't buy anything but we admired everything and chatted to the stall holders. There were lots of fish I've never seen before and didn't know what they were. Every time I commented to that effect about a particular fish the person behind the counter would say 'Ah well, it's a speciality of our area'. They clearly quite enjoyed talking to an Australian who was really interested in their fish, even if she wasn't buying.
Sea bass (Fr. bar), trigger fish (Fr. baliste) and xipister sauce.
Xipister is a traditional sauce made from the Basque mild chilli called Piment d'Espelette. It is considered an essential condiment for fish by the locals.
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Fr. thon rouge) and brill (Fr. barbue).
Prawns (Fr. crevettes) from Ecuador/Brasil, line caught hake (Fr. merlu), sole (Fr. sole), line caught sea bass (Fr. bar de ligne), gurnard (Fr. grondin), rockfish seabream (Fr. dorade sébaste), langoustine.
A fish labelled to indicate it was line caught in the wild by the local boat Samatheo II.
Quite a few fish were labelled with this level of traceability.
Locals buying fish.
Hake, red mullet (Fr. rouget barbet), langoustine, mackerel (Fr. maquereau), sea bass, skate wing (Fr. aile de raie).
Farmed mussels (Fr. moules de bouchot), baby squid (Fr. chipiron), hake, plaice (Fr. carrelet) and whiting (Fr. merlan).
Octopus (Fr. poulpe) and line caught albacore tuna (Fr. thon blanc).
Greater weever fish (Fr. vive).
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8 comments:
The variety of fish is amazing! Some of them, I had never heard of. Great post.
You and me both, chm!
It has always amazed us both how great the supermarket fish stalls are throughout France even in the middle... The French do like their fish. Hope the don't go the way of the UK as most of our fresh fish stalls in supermarkets have closed. Very Sad...
I think in places like Saint Jean de Luz they are relatively safe. The boats have adapted and the local population can't imagine not fishing and eating fish. Inland I think is more problematic. Fish has become expensive, not everyone likes to prepare it. It might become a holiday treat, something you eat when you go to the beach for the summer.
I wonder how market culture is going to be affected in the future if/when we enter the new normal?
I think the perception is that fresh markets, especially outdoor ones, are safer than supermarkets. However, social distancing means service is very slow at markets, better managed at supermarkets. People are going to have to develop some patience.
I have a love / hate relationship with fish markets. I love fish, the hubs doesn't. And I like going through the markets - but they are often wet and sometimes (very) smelly. I have ruined shoes exploring fish markets...
You'd be safe in this one.
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