Hey, Hey, Not the Monkfish

Published on Friday, October 26, 2007, by MiriamWolf / Edit Post

I thought everyone knew about the list. You know, the supremely useful Seafood Watch list put out by the Monterey Bay Aquarium to guide folks to fish and shellfish that are more abundant and less endangered.

But apparently Mark Bittman didn’t get the memo. His most recent Minimalist column is a mouth-watering how-to for seared fish on mashed potatoes, a restaurant staple. The rub? His preferred fish is monkfish—a no-no on the Seafood Watch list.

Edible Nation, the blog of the eat-local publication group Edible Communities, takes him to task in an open letter that manages to be both funny and informative. It also creates a hankering for a fillet of (not-overfished) line-caught, West Coast roasted salmon.

For one thing, it’s not a totally white/brown dish like your monkfish version … and salmon flakes nicely into the potatoes as you eat them. I even go one step further and braise some greens while the salmon is roasting.

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POST A COMMENT |4 Comments

COMMENT

  • Csmart, Do you have any recommendation for how a person in say, Philadelphia, could find "Day-Boat" fishermen? Thanks in advance.

    Ian Lewis

  • Now just a minute... While I have no idea where he sources his fish I think it's important to point out that this list is useful only up to a point. As a New England seafood lover I know of plenty of small purveyors who get their catch from fisherman using sustainable harvesting methods. While the Seafood Watch list can tell you population counts- I would much rather pay the little guy a bit more...+READ

    Now just a minute... While I have no idea where he sources his fish I think it's important to point out that this list is useful only up to a point. As a New England seafood lover I know of plenty of small purveyors who get their catch from fisherman using sustainable harvesting methods. While the Seafood Watch list can tell you population counts- I would much rather pay the little guy a bit more to catch local fish, in small numbers, than some giant corporation to drag their nets across the ocean floor. If you are working with the right guys then you are dealing with dayboats that are out there using lines or even spearfishing- bleeding the fish on the boat, and returning the same day with the freshest of fish. These guys can get you the best local catch, and actually care about there being plenty of fish in the sea next year.-COLLAPSE

  • I am all for sustainable fishing, I think it's a responsible, sane choice... however, after tuna, seabass, and shrimp have been put on *ze list*, what is there to eat other than salmon, salmon and some more (west coast) salmon?
    I didn't see red mullet on the list, which is a good thing. I think I might stick to that. Well at least until it gets on the list too.
    Perhaps Fugu? nope, just...+READ

    I am all for sustainable fishing, I think it's a responsible, sane choice... however, after tuna, seabass, and shrimp have been put on *ze list*, what is there to eat other than salmon, salmon and some more (west coast) salmon?
    I didn't see red mullet on the list, which is a good thing. I think I might stick to that. Well at least until it gets on the list too.
    Perhaps Fugu? nope, just kidding... :)-COLLAPSE

  • Ok great. I certainly can understand this. Let us be a bit more helpful and suggest a substitute fish we can get now that is fresh. West Coast halibut will be around for another few weeks. Also I think it might work better in the dish. P.S. I do not have anything against frozen fish of high quality, but it is hard to find.