I have a delightful book at home filled with the non-traditional things that take place up here! Today was a page from the book, the page that reads, "You know you're from Nova Scotia if you buy fish from the back of a truck." only it was even better than that!
We were taking a 10-minute ferry ride across the river and the man in the truck next to me was chatting with friends about having been fishing all morning. When he picked up a fish and offered some to a woman he seemed to know in a nearby car, I knew I had to have a photo! I asked if he minded...he didn't...and then he said if I had a bag to carry some, he'd give me some mackerel to take home! It was just too choice; I had to do it!
It was an open-ended offer, but I asked for three fish and he gave me four! When we later stopped to see friends, they gave me ice to keep them fresh. Ken grew up fishing on his farm, so he knew how to dress them, we grilled them with butter, lemon and some herbs and voila! We had a delicious dinner! I didn't know what to expect, but while the texture of the fillet was different from a swordfish steak, the flavour was not greatly different!
To me, life is about global experiences ... and we had one of them today! (So NOT Southern California!)
@lindasees They absolutely are! We've been spending extended summers here for 14 years now, and I'm more at home here than "back home" in Orange County! Thanks for that compliment to them!
I would KILL for some freshly caught fish!, the last time I had some was in Moorea when we ended up splitting a fish (must have been four feet long!) with another tourist couple....they had it hanging upside down in the middle of the street! We lightly grilled the fillets, and I will never forget the flavor! Great capture of all the stages....wonderful collage for the memory book!
oh, my goodness! the last time i had freshly caught fish, straight from the fishermen's boats was when i was a teenager. the locals would build a fire by the shore and the fishes are still alive, jumping in the coals! my uncle who was one of the fishermen had the sense to clean the fish for me before cooking it in the coals - for the city girl, he said. haha! but you can't have any fish fresher than that!
the way you cooked them sounds divine. can't wait to get there to partake of something similar. awesome collage, too!
A great collage . I love them smoked. We call them Makreel. I think it is a little to much fat for me. A remind. : As A kid I often did a two hours walk to my Grandma in a village near us . My Uncles where fisherman. When I get back home I always get a (or two) smoked makreel for home. I prefer Schol. (Pleuronectes platessa ) do you have them in Nova Scotia to ?
@pyrrhula Thanks, Ferry! "Smoked" would be delicious, and yes, we can get smoked Makreel here, too. It makes a delicious pate to spread on crackers! I know very little about local fish, but I'll have Ken look up Schol as he would know better than I do!
@summerfield I had no idea that several of you would relate to this photo and that it would bring up childhood memories! I agree that there's nothing better than anything fresh from the ocean or garden! This City Girl loves the time spent here partaking in the likes of all that!
@jamibann@gilbertwood@danette@trm
Thanks ya'll! We don't encounter experiences like this in the Orange County suburbs of Los Angeles! This was a pretty special moment!
@panthora As I just wrote to Vikki, I had no idea these photos would resonate with so many! Certainly you could get a wonderful fresh-fish dinner in your neighborhood, but to encounter it, fresh caught, while on vacation, well there's nothing quite like it...and the memories that will linger!
@allie912 Thank you for the kind words and sweet thought Allie... This time it was me responding to HIS friendliness, but he's typical of so many up here! People are different when life is run at a slower pace and they're not so rushed!
@chevymom Wow~ so good to see you! I never see a butterfly that I don't think of you! I'm surprised with all your "rustic camp outs" that he doesn't fix fish for your dinners! Will check back with everyone at a later time...need to get ready for the dinner guests!
We hadn't mackerel when young but fresh herring every week, just simply fried they were wonderful so I understand your delight at getting them fresh. Great collage
@Weezilou Thank you! I've been battling a long illness and am happy to be alive and raising butterflies again. The hubby doesn't cook at all, not even on the grill or when we are camping. He catches them and I do the rest lol.
August 20th, 2015
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the way you cooked them sounds divine. can't wait to get there to partake of something similar. awesome collage, too!
Thanks ya'll! We don't encounter experiences like this in the Orange County suburbs of Los Angeles! This was a pretty special moment!
Hugs to you!
I just buy me 10 kg. = 22lb 0.73965oz of them for in the freezer as they taste the best now .
Someone needs to teach my hubby how to clean fish! Looks like a great time was had.
Great collage Louise!