Just in cast you've not heard........
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Thursday, May 12, 2011
The Jay Moriarity Memorial Paddleboard Race
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
What's A Girl to Eat?
We all know that fish is a great food to add to our diet. Fish is a very lean protein and full of omega 3's not easily found in a typical diet. I like fish a lot, but unless it is fresh fish caught by my husband, I'm usually disappointed by fish served in restaurants or fish purchased from my local market. I've been doing some homework about how to find quality fish to bring home and to make a positive difference in the sustainability of our fisheries.
Issues with fish include sustainability of the species specific to fishing practices and the quality and safety of the fish itself. Some store purchased fish has come in shipped from far away, frozen for who knows how long. Some fish has been farmed and now barely resembles its wild caught relatives. Mercury and toxins have crept into many types of fish. Pregnant women are warned about eating certain kinds of fish and warned to limit the overall quantity of fish in their diet. Sometimes it just seems easier to walk past the fish counter and think about becoming vegan, or buying a big piece of steak.
In the Monterey Bay we have great options for buying seafood and with a little knowledge we can start to make good choices.
I'll end with a recipe by Kristine Kidd, Monterey Bay Aquarium Food Editor, for some of these cool days we've been experiencing recently.
Issues with fish include sustainability of the species specific to fishing practices and the quality and safety of the fish itself. Some store purchased fish has come in shipped from far away, frozen for who knows how long. Some fish has been farmed and now barely resembles its wild caught relatives. Mercury and toxins have crept into many types of fish. Pregnant women are warned about eating certain kinds of fish and warned to limit the overall quantity of fish in their diet. Sometimes it just seems easier to walk past the fish counter and think about becoming vegan, or buying a big piece of steak.
In the Monterey Bay we have great options for buying seafood and with a little knowledge we can start to make good choices.
What is Seafood Watch?
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program helps consumers and businesses make choices for healthy oceans. Our recommendations indicate which seafood items are "Best Choices," "Good Alternatives," and which ones you should "Avoid."
- Get the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch card and stick it in your wallet. If you have a smart phone you can put an app on it that lets you have the information at your fingertips: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/content/media/MBA_SeafoodWatch_WestCoastGuide.pdf
- Besides the Seafood Watch Guide, you can get tips on what are the best types of sushi to eat and Monterey Bay area restaurants that serve fish caught by sustainable methods: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch/web/sfw_partner.aspx?c=ln
- Many markets in the area have labels or policies about the types of fish they offer for sale. New Leaf Markets, Whole Foods, and Staff of Life all have terrific selections and knowledgeable staff. If you shop somewhere that does not provide information about the fish for sale, let the store manager know you care.
- Check out H & H Fresh Fish at the Aptos and Santa Cruz Farmers' Market. Hans the fisherman has a great website, http://hhfreshfish.com/, and you can talk to Hans in person about what he has been catching in the bay and where he gets his other fish. He is dedicated to sustainable practices and can really get your mouth watering with recipes and his general enthusiasm.
I'll end with a recipe by Kristine Kidd, Monterey Bay Aquarium Food Editor, for some of these cool days we've been experiencing recently.
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 Cod Chowder with Kale and Yukon Gold PotatoesSustainable Seafood RecipeThis comforting soup combines delicately flavored Pacific cod with smoky bacon (look for organic bacon made from pork or turkey), bright green kale and fresh thyme. For a satisfying dinner, serve with tender cornbread or biscuits and a crunchy salad dressed with mustard vinaigrette alongside. U.S.-caught Pacific cod is a Seafood Watch "Best Choice" or "Good Alternative" depending on the method of catch. Avoid imported Pacific cod. INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS Cook the bacon in a heavy large pot over medium heat until brown and crisp, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel and drain. Add the onion, bay leaves and thyme to the pot. Sauté over medium heat until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the paprika. Add the clam juice, 1/2 cup water, and then the potatoes. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer until the potatoes are just tender, about 8 minutes.Add the cream and bacon to the chowder. Sprinkle the cod pieces with salt and pepper then add the cod and kale to the soup. Simmer until the fish is opaque in the center (to check, cut into a piece of fish with a small knife or break apart with a spoon), stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Ladle the chowder into warmed bowls and serve. |
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Cormorants and a Story About Ping
For years, when I saw a flight of cormorants zoom by, or a solitary cormorant share an in shore hole with a surf fisherman, I thought of Ping. The book was a long lost childhood memory, but I thought it had something to do with cormorants trained to fish in China. After many years, I took the time to look at the book online. It is actually called, "A Story About Ping": http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/ping.pdf
Ping wasn't a cormorant as I remembered, but instead a wayward duck. Ping does get to see the trained fishing cormorants of the Yangtze River, escapes being served as dinner, and makes it back to his own family with only a minor spanking on his back.
From what little I know, cormorants that are trained to fish still exist in China and some parts of the world, but mostly as tourist attractions, reminders of past cultures and traditions. I think about our local surf fishermen sharing their spots with these birds and that maybe they have their own relationship with the birds that help them find the best spots for fish.
Brandts Cormorants, the most common type in the Monterey Bay
Cormorants get Pepper excited. There is something about their long necks and hurried wing flapping that must remind him of something from his life before he came to live with us. I'll point them out as they speed along the surface of the water and Pepper will give them a good chase. Most of the time they seem to be heading to the Cement Ship, the Palo Alto, at Seacliff State Beach. A pier is connected to the ship, but the ship itself is now gated because of exposed rebar, holes, and generally dangerous stuff. It has turned into a great habitat for birds and sea lions, including a large number of cormorants.
Some links:
General cormorant info: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brandts_Cormorant/lifehistory
Fishing cormorants in China: http://www.yangshuo-travel-guide.com/cormorant-fishing.html
Monday, May 9, 2011
The Whales are Back!
I've been looking for whales daily. I always think about their trek north this time of year. The sun is higher in the sky as we start our walk. Razor clams have reappeared and are showing themselves at low tide. I let Sergeant Pepper dig them up and eat a few for a special treat. Pelicans are returning in larger numbers everyday as are the fishermen. I scan the horizon for whale spouts, but nothing for the past few weeks.
Today I saw something in the surf zone off the seawall down coast from Hidden Beach. I stopped to look for a bit thinking it was a bird or maybe dolphins that have been coming in again with more frequency. After a few seconds a large tail slapped the surface of the water, clearly too big for a dolphin. Pepper and I followed the spouts up coast for awhile and confirmed two gray whales moving close to shore together. It was hard to tell if it was a mother and calf, but I let my imagination believe that one was smaller. They stayed close to shore until they reached the "platform" and then headed further out in the bay. What a thrill!
Gray Whale information
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/AnimalDetails.aspx?id=779789
Today I saw something in the surf zone off the seawall down coast from Hidden Beach. I stopped to look for a bit thinking it was a bird or maybe dolphins that have been coming in again with more frequency. After a few seconds a large tail slapped the surface of the water, clearly too big for a dolphin. Pepper and I followed the spouts up coast for awhile and confirmed two gray whales moving close to shore together. It was hard to tell if it was a mother and calf, but I let my imagination believe that one was smaller. They stayed close to shore until they reached the "platform" and then headed further out in the bay. What a thrill!
Gray Whale information
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/AnimalDetails.aspx?id=779789
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