Tilapia sucks!
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,248
#17
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
Interesting. I've always found the fish in the Bay Area in CA to be very disappointing. Even the supposedly good stores (such as Whole Foods and its competitors) and the roadside fresh fish markets in fishing ports seem to sell fish that has seen better days. It's really not that hard - catch it and get it on sale later the same day or, in extremis, the following day.
I therefore avoid fish in the USA altogether now.
I therefore avoid fish in the USA altogether now.
#19
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
That said, in addition to the salmon, you can usually find local halibut, rock fish, petrale sole, albacore and striped bass. Not bad, but nowhere near the variety to be had on the other coast.
#20
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
I agree that tilapia isn't the best but I think you're also giving short shrift to the west coast. While is may seem like halibut/salmon are the only things on the menu, you need to pay attention to the seasonal fish they have on offer. Rockfish, sardines, squid, mackerel, albacore, ling cod, herring, and seabass are delicious and available in season up and down the coast.
#21
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
Growing up, we would fish on Lake Erie and you pretty much dropped a double hook thing into the water and would pull up 2 perch at a time - repeat as often as you needed.
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,041
I think I agree with this - it seems 1/2 the shelf space is salmon of one kind or another.
That said, in addition to the salmon, you can usually find local halibut, rock fish, petrale sole, albacore and striped bass. Not bad, but nowhere near the variety to be had on the other coast.
That said, in addition to the salmon, you can usually find local halibut, rock fish, petrale sole, albacore and striped bass. Not bad, but nowhere near the variety to be had on the other coast.
But, when I was a student at Stanford 5 years before, I was pretty much limited to salmon from Safeway.
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,028
You could always find a local restaurant with fresh versions of either. YUM.
#24
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,041
#25
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,638
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,638
I am fortunate to live close to two very good fish markets. One is the purveyor for the best restaurants in the area. But you pay accordingly. Most fresh local sea product is $$$. And delicious. The other has a larger selection, including imported sashimi grade, high quality farmed, and whatever may be available locally. I nearly cry when I see the poor dead fishes in a supermarket case, likely frozen and defrosted at least a couple of times over. My loaves come from Acme and my fishes come from above. Don't hate. But if Tilapia is what is served in my local hole-in-the-wall's dish, I'll usually eat it.
#29
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
I'm up on the Cape quite a lot and their selection is fantastic but as discussed, very pricey. One of my favorite foods is Nantucket Bay Scallops and you better believe they are never cheap. I couldn't find them for less than $35 a lb this year. I've got a good relationship now with the guys and they give me a break on larger lobsters later in the summer. I'll never understand people's reticence to buy anything larger than a 1.5 lb lobster.
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,028