Two very old very dear friends came down from Melbourne to spend the weekend here with me. Ingrid organized a fabulous programme for us but especially for me knowing I was interested in anything foodie.
the local fishing boats owned by an old Italian family |
So she said they would pick me up on Monday morning at 6 am to go to the Fish Market not only to see the day’s catch but to witness the auction. In fact they were early and my cousin hissed at me at quarter to, your friends are here! But I was more or less ready and off we set in her mother’s trusty car.
Ingrid had booked us in for a tour so indeed after paying a fee of 20 AUD and donning our obligatory orange safety jackets, we were divided into 2 small groups and our very personable young guide Portia proceeded to give us all sorts of diverse info about the market and the proceedings there. Unfortunately no photos were allowed once inside the inner sanctum.
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On any given day around 100 types of fish are caught and sold; all in all, about 400 types pass through these fishy portals. The scene was electric: a huge well-lit hall full of boxes crammed with fish both big and small, different types of crustaceans, and of course the buyers. They were seated on bleachers to the right in front of 3 huge screens which displayed the nameof the fish being auctioned along with the amounts and prices. They use the Dutch system of auctioning which is what is used in Holland with the tulips apparently: a top price is given and bids follow from that but going down not up. It must be quite an art to get the fish at the right price!
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We learnt how to tell male crabs from female by turning them over and examining the ‘plate’ there! The males have a V marking – V for Viagra as our guide told us – easy when you know! It seems female ones are sweeter. If female crabs are found to be full of eggs, they all have to be thrown back in the sea.
most definitely male! |
how fresh are these?? |
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There was one variety of big fish called a mahi: apparently this is the only fish that mates for life. Imagine that. These fish like to swim together and will often swim in a shoal around a boat. They are often mistaken for dolphin but of course dolphin aren’t eaten while these are.
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Of course there were the big tuna beloved by the Japanese community for sashimi. These are graded into A, B+, B, B- according to how firm the flesh is as well as how red it is too. The darker the better. This depends on the age and overall health of the fish. Believe me, it was all fascinating!
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Just outside the main hall, we saw workers busy skinning and de-boning the absolutely delicious-looking salmon and also shucking oysters. There was Camelia, a delightful Asian worker, shucking away and apparently she shucks between 2500-3000 oysters per day and gets a good salary for it.
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All those on the tour were given a $5 voucher. Since we were 3, we put them together and got a dozen oysters which along with some fresh bread that we bought there too, we took home to Ingrid’s mum for a late breakfast!
6 of these |
plus 6 of these … |
….made a great brunch! |
as Ingrid would agree! |
Claudia- How fortunate you are to be able to travel. Do not ever take it for granted! Your post made me nostalgic for our own Gulf coast of Florida and Alabama. There is nothing better than fresh seafood.
How fortunate! Loved reading this post.
i loved visiting the market with you! i have tried so hard to like fresh raw oysters and i just can't. i do love them cooked and as oyster stew!
Goodness me you are have some good friends who know exactly what you need to see. I'm vegetarian as you know but I found this post and the photos that went with it fascinating. Great post.
I am now back in a cold wintry Istanbul after all my Aussıe adventures. Thank you all so much for your lovely comments – I'm glad you liked it …
re raw oysters: one of my two friends wouldn't eat them either: snot in a shell she said succinctly!!
Welcomeback Caludia, After reading your post I am starving now:)) Those oysters were looking so delicious, afiyet olsun! Tnx for dropping by and leaving me comment, Salu2!
Oh, how much money could I have spent at that fish market? All the seafood looks so fresh and beautifully presented and your brunch looks sooo tempting.
Welcome back to Turkey by the way. 🙂
Wonderful things – warms the coccles of me 'art as they say here!