Fresh Abalone, King Salmon and more

More Fresh Salmon, Less Arthritis Pain?

2010-07-22T19:02:00.001-07:00

Did you know that eating fresh salmon not only helps your heart but can help with the pain of arthritis?

If you’ve ever experienced the swelling and pain that comes with rheumatoid arthritis, you’ll be glad to know there are various “super foods” that have been linked to improvement in those with RA. And at the top of that list is none other than fresh salmon!

Alas, arthritis can strike almost anyone. About 1 percent of the U.S. population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Women are two to three times more likely to have it, but men are often are more severely affected. While more common in middle age, younger and older persons can also suffer from this ailment which involves joint pain and swelling and stiffness (especially in the morning or after long periods of sitting).

Of course you should seek a proper diagnosis and treatment from a qualified medical practitioner if you have or think you have rheumatoid arthritis. At the same time, it makes sense to keep up with the news on the nutritional front at how your diet can help you.

I was surprised and delighted to discover that one of the best things we can do for arthritis is to eat more fresh salmon. Here are some of the reasons as covered in the Readers Digest:

· Salmon is among the riches sources of healthy Omega 3 fats.

· Salmon is less likely than other cold-water fish to contain high levels of mercury, which is toxic.

· Salmon contains calcium, Vitamin D, and folate.

The article also notes that “eating salmon may protect the cardiovascular system by

“by preventing blood clots, repairing artery damage, raising levels of good cholesterol, and lowering blood pressure.”

To get the most benefit from the salmon in your diet, you should buy fish that is fresh. Buy fresh salmon. If whole, eyes should be clear and bright, flesh not slimy. Steaks and fillets should be firm and moist. Follow these cooking tips to add the most value to your meal:

Cook the salmon within a day or so. Use the refrigerated leftovers during the next couple days in salads or with cucumbers and dill
Use low-fat cooking methods. Even the good fat has calories, so don’t load up your dish with more. Cook your fresh salmon by baking, poaching, broiling, or steaming. Aromatic herbs or fresh fruit salsas will add flavor without adding fat.
Cook until opaque. Beware overcooking the salmon. It should lose its translucency and be opaque, with clear juices and easily flaked flesh.

While the article especially advocates the eating of more fresh salmon, it also notes nine other “super foods” that can help the arthritis sufferer, including bananas, sweet peppers, shrimp, soy products, sweet potatoes, cheese, lentils and green tea.

Now that gives me an idea! How about combining as many of those into a single meal or day? Imagine a succulent fresh King Salmon steak simmered with sweet peppers and shrimp with a soy sauce, with a side of sweet potatoes and a tall glass of iced green tea? Even without arthritis, that would be a really tempting meal!

How To Saute a Fish Fillet Perfectly

2010-07-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

“Sautéing is one of the best cooking techniques for fillets, which tend to dry out when roasted or even grilled or broiled.”
~ Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer et al.

Have you ever tried to sauté a lovely fish fillet and had any of these disasters befall you?

· The fish falls apart while being lifted from the pan.

· After cooking, the batter is soggy, oily.

· The oil smoked while cooking.

· The butter burned and ruined everything.

· The fillets cooked unevenly, with burned spots.

Take heart. Sautéing fish fillets at home is easy once you know how. Whether you are going to buy fish to fry or throw out a line and catch your own this summer, boning up on the fundamentals of fish frying is essential.

(1) First, make sure that when you buy fish that it is fresh. Whether you order from an online seafood market or buy it from a local fishmonger, a fish should never have a “fishy smell.” If it is whole, the eyes should be clear. The flesh should be firm, without any milky or watery liquids. So check that fresh halibut or cod in the market, or those trout your better half brought home. A great alternative is ordering fresh seafood online for overnight delivery.

(2) Choose the proper pan. Fish like a little personal space, so don’t crowd them in your fry pan. If you have a fairly small pan, you may need to fry your fillets in batches, keeping the cooked ones warm in a warm oven (200° F).

(3) Choose the right oil or fat. While Irma and friends recommend a blend of olive oil and butter, or even clarified butter, more cooks prefer canola or safflower oil because they do not smoke and burn at high temperatures. So save your expensive olive oil for marinades and sauces, not for sautés. Avoid bacon fat, lard, and seasoned oils.

(4) Coat the fish to your taste. Dredge the fillets in flour (or cornmeal or breadcrumbs) seasoned with salt, pepper, and herbs of your choice. (You can dip them in first in a mixture of one egg blended with 2 tablespoons milk, or in milk alone, or consult more recipes for batters, such as tempura.)

(5) Use the right temperature: medium-high. If a bread cube tossed in the oil sizzles and turns golden, you’ve got it right. If it sinks and absorbs the oil or burns to a crisp in a flash, so will your fish. If it’s smoking, lower the temperature. If the cube is soggy, raise it.

(6) Sauté with care. Don’t wander off. Fish fillets only need cooking for 2 or 3 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Slide them into the oil (which should sizzle but not spatter), leaving space around each fillet. Do not add too many at once as this will reduce the oil temperature drastically. Do not overcook or they fall apart. You can use the time to cut up lemons and/or prepare tartar sauce.

(7) Remove them with care, serve with pride! To keep the first ones crispier, place on a rack over a paper towel-lined platter, keep warm in oven. Serve hot when all fillets are ready with lemon wedges and parsley garnish.

The next time you buy fish, follow these steps and you’ll discover your own joy of cooking fish as well as the joy of eating it!

Recipe for … the Perfect Evening for Two!

2010-06-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

Looking for some ideas for the perfect romantic evening for two? There are few things in the is world that beat delicious seafood, a perfectly matched wine, some flickering candles and happy conversation. Today we check out some 'recipes' for the perfect evening for two, matching your seafood order to a delicious wine, and pairing the culinary elements up with a venue!

Chardonnay and king crab legs on the boardwalk

Look for a chardonnay that is said to have a rich, buttery and creamy taste - then match it up with the delicate flavors of king crab legs and hollandaise sauce. All that buttery goodness will probably leave you feeling a bit heavy after dinner - so why not pack up your picnic basket (and a few moist towellettes for your face and hands!) and hop down to the boardwalk, a river view, or anywhere else that you can take a spectacular walk after dinner.

Riesling and teriyaki glazed salmon before a county fair

Riesling, especially German rieslings, are light and sweet, and match beautifully with barbecue teriyaki-glazed or even Cajun shrimp. All that sugary sweetness will give you plenty of energy (and stop you looking longingly at the cotton candy) at a local county fair … wander round afterwards in the bright lights and see if you can win your sweetheart one of those giant teddy bears!

Barbecued salmon and pinot noir on your balcony or deck

Bring out a blanket if the weather's getting a little chilly- but don't forego the pleasure of having some beautiful wine and awesome conversation as your fresh seafood order of salmon is barbecueing! It takes no extra cash, and you don't even have to brush your hair if you don't want to … but fresh air, good pinot noir, tasty barbecued salmon and conversation with the stars to look at cannot be beaten for romanticism.

4 Delicious Homemade Dips for Your King Crab Legs

2010-06-08T17:37:00.001-07:00

King crab legs have such a complex, delicious flavor that there are relatively few sauces you can use with them, while still retaining all the natural beauty that they can express to your tastebuds! If you've managed to chase up some delectable king crab legs and have practiced cooking them to perfection, you'll want the perfect sauce to go with them. Today we check out 4 easy king crab leg sauce or dip recipes that will have you salivating in memory of them for days afterwards!

Clarified Butter

Not really a healthy dip for your crab legs … but sooooo delicious! Clarified butter is quick and easy to make - you simply heat the desired amount of butter in a small saucepan until fully melted, and then leave it to stand so that the milk solids and the oil separate. Skim most of the milk solids off, and then separate the oil by slowly pouring it into a dipping bowl. When you can no longer separate the two, just stop and save the milk solids for another creamy dish made with your seafood order, like pasta marinara!

Hollandaise Crab Leg Dip

Another very easy one - you simply combine all ingredients, heat til nearly boiling, then simmer on very low heat until thickened. Mmmm - here's what you need to throw in the pan:

2 egg yolks
2 tbsp cream
2-3 dashes of paprika
2 dashes salt
2 tbsp lemon juice
½ cup butter

Bearnaise sauce

Just about any fresh seafood tastes divine with béarnaise sauce, and it's another especially easy one to cook. Simply blend the ingredients and serve the sauce warm:

A quantity of Hollandaise sauce (see above)
1.5 tsp tarragon
1.5 tsp parsely
1.5 tsp chives
Pepper to taste

Lemon Dill dip

Onee of life's great mysteries is why seafood and lemon go so beautifully together … the reason may be a mystery, but the concept is a fact! You can serve this hot or cold, and all that needs to be done is to blend the ingredients:

6 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp dillweed
1 dash salt
Pepper to taste

The Succulent Sablefish

2010-05-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

Have you tried sablefish yet? Next time you buy fish, give it a try! They can be baked, broiled, or fried and are especially apt for Asian cooking.

While it was totally unknown outside of Japan until just a few years ago on menus, it has quickly become one of the most popular items on restaurants from San Francico to Rome.

A fish by any other name does taste as sweet. The sablefish gets called “black cod,” but it is not at all related to cod. It also gets called “butterfish,” but it is not a true butterfish either. The fillets are flaky and delicate, and ever so succelent. Moreover they are high in oil content, which is great for your heart health, and may account for the “butterfish” name.

For you scientifically minded, the sablefish belongs to the family, Anoplopomatidae, which includes only sablefish and skillfish. They can range in size from one to 10 pounds.

These fabulous fish are found from central Baja california north to British Columbia. While most of the catch comes from Alaska, you can buy fresh fish, line caught, from great seafood markets along the California coast, where it falls into the category of “sustainable” fish, I’m happy to note. You can even get order them from online seafood delivery services!

These fish are particurly sought for Asian cooking and sashimi. . . so small wonder that more than 50 % of the U.S. catch is exported to Japan, where it fetches a premium price.

Give the sable fish a try at a restaurant or in your home. Kasu cod, or gilled sablefish marinated in sake and leeks, is quite the in thing, as is cold-smoked sablefish. Experiment with various recipes at home. When I googled “sablefish recipe,” I got over 76,000 hits, ranging from lemon broiled to miso glazed.

For a really spectacular but simple recipe, try the Grilled Sablefish with Spicy Soy Glaze from Epicurious. Marinate for at least 20 minutes two sablefish fillets in a mixture of 3 tablespoon light soy sauce, juice of 2 large limes, 1 very hot chili (finely sliced crosswise), 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or honey), dash of sesame oil, 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil. Grill 4 minutes on each side and dress with a bit of reserved marinade. Enjoy your fresh fish!

Make Your Own Sushi—It’s Out of This World!

2010-05-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of going out for sushi is admiring the itamae (sushi chef) as he artfully crafts our dinner. Like a well trained artist, he quickly sculpts the nori, rice, and bits of fish and vegetables then slices them into perfectly beautiful rounds reminiscent of the elegant French millefluers paperweight here on my desk—sheer delight of color and form. And of course with sushi, there is that delight to the palate.

With no pretense to becoming an expert, I’ve been fooling around with making sushi at home, much to my own delight and that of my husband. I’d like to share a few key learnings along the way, and I’m sure there will be more later!

1. Buy the best sushi-grade fish you can find.The final product is never better than the ingredients that go in to it. It is really easy to buy fresh fish and sea food on line from reliable sources, which is important here.

2. Get all the other supplies before you get the fish.

You want to use that fresh sushi fish as soon as you can. So in advance, get together the rest of your supplies: the mat, nori (the sheets of seaweed), rice, wasabi, sushi ginger, and the vegetables (avocado or whatever). Make it simple—order on line from a great online

sea food market.

3. Take FREE lessons in your own home.

Watch some on-line videos for great visuals in how to make all kinds of sushi and related dishes. Restaurant sushi chefs work too fast to really serve as models for beginners. It’s amazing to see that there are videos for all kinds of sushi and sashimi—just Google “how to sushi youtube.com” or substitute something more specific for “sushi” as you wish. (That search brought me 1, 450,000 hits in 0.42 seconds!)

4. Do not worry about being perfect.

If your rolls are lopsided or fall apart, smile like Buddha and eat it anyway. Practice makes perfect. And the taste is still great! Tell yourself “It’s not a mistake, it’s an experiment.”

When you get the hang of it, have a sushi party! Everyone can have some fun inventing new combinations that could rival that ever popular California roll. Just put that fresh fish together with your favorite veggies, and voila! In addition to the popular sushi tuna, try some Fresh King Salmon, and even cooked crab and scallops for those who are skeptical of fresh fish at first.

For entertainment at your sushi party, show a really amazing recent NASA video of the first sushi chef in space -- astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency aboard the International Space Station. Now that sushi really was out of this world!

Give the Gift of Fresh Sea Food

2010-04-26T11:52:00.000-07:00

What’s your idea of the perfect gift to give?

Some know how to say it with flowers. Want something different? Then let me recommend sea food too you! What could be simpler than placing an online seafood order to be delivered to someone special?

Seafood makes a special gift for countless reasons. It is easy to store (much can be frozen), easy to use, delicious, and healthy! Who wouldn’t be delighted to hear the bell ring for a special sea food delivery—and discover that they’ve just received a package of jumbo shrimp or crab legs, or perhaps fresh king salmon or some other delicacy from the sea?

When you think seafood as a gift, the options are many, from fresh or frozen seafood to cookbooks, to accessories. Specialty sea food shops will be glad to offer gift certificates as well.

For Congratulations, Offer the Gift of Pride. More and more people are into gourmet cooking. I remember when my teen-age son added a sushi kit to our shopping cart a few years back. It was amazing to see him develope pride in fixing homemade sushi for family and friends.

Who do you know that loves seafood and just needs a little nudge to develop his or her culinary talents? Consider a great cookbook or a high-quality fish knife as your own encouragement to a budding chef—and you are offering the potential for pride. For the new parent, you might add the gift of convenience with already-prepared seafood dishes! Here are some ways to offer congratulations and best wishes:

· Promotion: Caviar (and champagne!)

· Graduation: King Crab Legs (you are going places!), Seafood cookbook

· New Baby: Chowders and other easy-to-prepare dishes

· Happy Birthday: Fresh Lobster Tails or person’s favorite fish

For Anniversaries, Thank Yous, Offer the Gift of Joy. More and more of my friends are discovering the joy of fresh cooking. Couples will appreciate your gift of sea food or accessories as well. Some of the happiest couples I know are those who spend quality time in the kitchen together, creating a great meal that they then enjoy together afterwards. If this is not a custom yet, let them know that research shows that mates who learn new things together actually become happier!

So to express love or gratitude, here are some ideas about how you can give seafood and seafood-related gifts to create a memorable occasion.

· Thank Yous/Hostess Gifts: Oyster knives or lobster implements

· Bridal Shower: Seafood Cookbook, Fish knife

· Happy Anniversary: Seafood Platter for two

· I Love You: Fresh Oysters (enough to share!)

Those are just a few good ideas for giving unique, memorable gifts. Now expand and adapt—just as you would with any good basic recipe, and enjoy the good feelings you are creating!

P.S. Don't be surprised if you get some great sea food in return when it's your day to celebrate!

Pregnant Women Should Eat More Fish for Smarter, Healthier Babies

2010-04-15T18:07:00.001-07:00

We already know that fish is good for adults as it can improve heart health. Did you know that fish consumption during and after pregnancy is also recommended? The oil from fish turns out to be brain food for your child!

Scientists studied over 12,000 pregnant women, as reported in the Harvard School of Public Health, and what did they find?

Children born to mothers who ate less than two servings of fish a week performed more poorly on tests of intelligence, behavior, and other developmental milestones.
Children of mothers who did eat fish at least twice a week showed better visual recognition.
Children of breast-feeding mothers who eat regularly ate fish had similar benefits.

Some people are concerned that increasing their intake of fish may harm their health due to contaminants such as mercury of PCBs. But research by the Environmental Protection agency shows that the calculated health benefits for healthier development and healthier hearts far outweighs the infinitesimal danger from mercury or PCBs.

“The healthiest approach for women who are or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children is to eat two servings per week of fish or other seafood, including up to one serving per week of white (albacore) canned tuna, and avoid the four fish species higher in mercury (shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel),” notes the Harvard report, quoting the Environmental Protection Agency.

So if you are in this category, remember to avoid those four species and enjoy the benefits of fresh seafood the rest of the time! If you are considering local freshwater fish, check with experts first. [Note: If you are not in this category, the restriction does not apply—and all the evidence supports regular consumption of a variety of fish and seafood.] One of the easiest ways of assuring really fresh fish is through a quality online seafood delivery service. When you are a busy mother or mother-to-be, this can be a great time-saver.

Also, nutritionists recommend that when cooking fish, consider baking or grilling instead of frying. Perk up the taste with herbs, lemon juice, and even fruit salsas rather than high-fat, high-sodium sauces. If now and then you decide to fry some fish, say a great fresh halibut, use an olive oil spray for additional health benefits.

As parents, offering fresh seafood twice a week benefits you as well as your children. Continue this family habit as your children grow, cooking fresh fish and serving it attractively. What a wonderful way to offer your children a legacy of taste and health.

Fresh Seafood at your Door Step

2010-03-20T20:18:00.001-07:00

Searching for the best fresh seafood at a top quality seafood market can become aggravating when you live in the coastal areas, now just imagine if you lived in somewhere in the center of the map where fresh seafood is unheard of? You may never have the opportunity to experience the best cuts of fresh seafood, mouth watering shellfish, a variety of seafood chowder and all round best seafood. Why allow another day to go by without the fresh seafood you deserve and love no matter where you live in the United States? With the assistance of a seafood company that has been delivering fresh seafood all over the United States within twenty four hours of your order you can enjoy all your seafood dishes and appetizers anytime of the day or night. Placing an order is simple and easy with the assistance of professional customer service members who are awaiting your call or on line order. Not only will you receive the best in fresh seafood but the largest variety along with the best prices available including, in some cases, extra discounts and coupons.

Ordering seafood for your family or special occasion has never been easier with the assistance of the seafood specialist who have been bringing only the best in seafood to your neighbors doors for years. Now they can start delivering to your door and best of all within twenty four hours of your order. If you are planning a simple dinner with family and friends, a social dinner for your boss or potential clients, even for your daughter’s wedding reception or rehearsal dinner you can will find not only the best cuts of fresh fish, top quality shellfish, outstanding caviar and other delicious seafood but you will have access to the perfect wines that accompany your choices as well as delicious sauces and mouthwatering recipes. Now you can cater your own events and save an endless amount of money without risking of ruining your reputation when it comes to taste.

Never settle for frozen seafood again when you are entertaining or merely feeding your own family. With the endless amount of choices and wonderful next day service you can place your order on line or over the phone with the seafood company that is family owned and understands the importance of fresh seafood. Bringing you only the top quality seafood and perfect menus to help you plan the important dinner upcoming dinner party your meals will be a success. Enjoy shopping with the family who has made delivery fresh seafood to you and your family their top priority for years.

Entertaining with Seafood

2010-03-10T12:00:00.001-08:00

Seafood is a wonderful main course, snack or appetizer, plus it is full of vitamins and nutrients for your body, mainly your heart and brain. Fresh seafood is a must when it comes to entertaining or just completing the perfect meal or appetizer. Of course, some places in the United States do not have access to fresh seafood, depending on where you live so you are faced with previously frozen seafood. Now you can enjoy fresh seafood delivered to your home within 24 hours of placing your order. Not only do you have access to fresh seafood but wonderful recipes, delicious sauces that complement the seafood and outstanding recipes. Thanks to a family owned seafood market you can now place your order online no matter where in the United States you live and have your seafood and other items delivered fresh not frozen.

Choose from a variety of exotic seafood such as abalone or caviar, king salmon, Alaskan halibut, Ahi tuna, a wide variety of shellfish, smoked fish or other cooked fish and much more when you take advantage of the wonderful selections available on line. Enjoy only the best cuts of meat when you choose your fish that will make up the ingredients for your sushi, caviar that will complete a wedding menu or special occasion, or your favorite shellfish. Not only can you enjoy the best cuts of meat or the freshest selection of Dungeness crabs, king crabs and other shellfish but you have the option to purchase spices and sauces that will add flavor to your seafood dish. You can shop among only the finest seafood at the lowest prices available when you order your overnight shipment of seafood and accessories that will be delivered to your door.

Take advantage of fresh seafood as opposed to frozen seafood and watch the expressions on your guests or family’s faces when they bite into your carefully planned dinner. You will also enjoy browsing through delicious recipes that are shared with you by people who have experienced the taste and service of the seafood company that only brings you the best in seafood fillets, shellfish, caviar, and other items. Make your next dinner party an event to remember when you serve fresh seafood. Whether you are planning a full course dinner party or simply appetizers for a gather make sure you serve only the freshest seafood available.

5 Ways to Eliminate Health and Environmental Risks in Fish

2010-02-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

As much as we hear about the health benefits of eating fish, we hear about the associated dangers. It can be easy to scare ourselves off one of the most delicious, versatile and healthy dishes in the recipe book! There are some health issues associated with eating fish, but there are health risks associated with eating just about everything … while there has never been concern about mercury in bacon, thousands more people have died or become seriously ill from eating smoked pork than from eating fish. So today we are looking at how to enjoy your seafood order without concern about the risks of eating fish.

Eat fish twice a week
Eating excessive amounts of fish has been associated with an increased risk of mercury poisoning, especially if you favor species higher up the food chain, like shark, or bottom-feeders, like catfish. Simply limit your fish intake to two times per week, and you can enjoy your fish without worrying about mercury.
Switch species
As we hinted above, if you switch to a pelagic species of fish, or one that is lower down the food chain in your seafood order, you will get less mercury.
Know where your fish are caught
Knowing where your fish are caught allows you to make a much more informed decision about how often you should eat them. Companies that publicize their catch areas generally have a more reliably healthy product.
Look for farmed fish sometimes
There is nothing that can beat the delicious freshness of wild-caught fish. However, if every person in the world were to eat two servings of wild-caught fish per week, we would quickly run out of fish in the ocean. Switch out your wild-caught seafood order sometimes with farmed fish, and give the environment a helping hand by creating more demand for farmed species and better research into growing tasty fish!
Check your species
If you are concerned about the impact that by-catch has on the environment, check out the marine conservation website for advice on which species are associated with turtle and dolphin accidental catches, and which species are overfished.

8 Potential Health Benefits of Eating Fish!

2010-02-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

We all know that the omega 3's in fish are good for our brain, skin and general functioning. However, most of us don't realize just how deep and wide the potential health benefits of that delicious online seafood order could go! Countries like Norway, Iceland and Japan where fish is consumed almost exclusively among meats have radically lower instances of many diseases. Today we look at the potential science has uncovered, when it comes to your seafood order.

Asthma prevention
When children eat fish, it seems that they are much less likely to develop asthma. It also seems that some protective effect against asthma is conferred when mothers eat fish during pregnancy.
Brain and eye health
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in high quantities in oily fish, are some of the essential building blocks for brain and eye tissue. Our bodies don't do much in the way of regeneration of brain and eye tissue throughout life, so it is most important for pregnant women to ensure they are not omega-3 deficient.
Cardiovascular disease
Studies have shown that people who eat fish every week are less likely to develop blood clots, likely to have more elastic blood vessels and lower blood pressure, and lower fat levels in the blood.
Dementia
When elderly people eat fish at least once a week, they are less likely to get dementia according to some studies - another brain-protective effect.
Depression
This insidious and quite common condition is linked to low level of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain.
Diabetes
Eating fish may make it easier for your body to regulate blood sugar and keep it steady - great for diabetics and pre-diabetics.
Inflammation
You shouldn’t only be reaching for your tuna when you get a bee sting - many health conditions see improvements along with an increase in the volume of your seafood order! Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and other autoimmune inflammatory diseases can be improved with fish consumption.

8. Premature babies
Mothers who eat fish while they are pregnant have a lower risk of delivering their baby prematurely, which is great for the child's all-round health.

The Truth About Buying Seafood and Mercury

2010-01-17T15:48:00.001-08:00

There are two sides to every biological story … sometimes there are even more. In some cases, there are as many different sides to a story as there are people in the world! When it comes to seafood, folks on one side of the fence point to the incredible health of cultures like Japan, where traditionally very little red eat is eaten and most protein comes from their seafood orders. Folks on the other side point to high levels of mercury in some fish, especially those higher up the food chain -- which sometimes happen to be those that are most recommended for health! Today we weigh up both sides of fish debate, and discover whether mercury or general health is more important.

What is mercury?

Mercury is a heavy metal which is toxic to the body, except in very small amounts. Mercury may occur as organic mercury, inorganic mercury, or metallic mercury. Organic mercury, one form of which is methylmercury, is the most dangerous.

How does it get into fish?

The vast majority of the mercury in fish comes from ocean sediment. Microorganisms in the water transform this into methyl mercury, and this either makes its way up the food chain through plankton, or is absorbed through ttheir gills as they swim around.

Mercury in fish can also come from industrial activities, but this represents only a small portion of the mercury to be found in online seafood.

What level of mercury is safe to consume?

Our bodies are wonderful, specially designed toxin-excreting machines. The body is more complicated than pop science would have you believe -- mercury may even play a biological role of which we are not yet aware. Free radicals, after all, that bane of the pop science world, are vital to proper working of our immune system. It is perfectly safe to consume some level of mercury -- there's no need to forego eating online seafood completely.

For example…

Remember the Japanese, their diet high in fish and their incredible health? Well, the ocean sediment has contained just as much mercury or the past several hundred years as it does today, and the Japanese do not seem to suffer any ill effects from this. The key is to balance out your fish consumption between species higher up the food chain with those lower down, which contain less mercury.

How much is enough?

Eating one serving of carnivorous fish a week, like shark, swordfish or barramundi is not considered harmful at all. Other fish typically contain almost no mercury -- there is no restriction placed on the amount of salmon eaten, even by pregnant women, for example. Young children should avoid eating shark, swordfish and marlin, but can safely eat other fish from seafood orders at least twice a week.

5 Delicious and Traditional Sauces for Your Seafood Order

2010-01-10T13:16:00.001-08:00

The beginning of a wonderful meal is a fresh, succulent seafood order. After that, the niceties are negotiable! Seafood is excellent with simple sauces, like a concoction of flour, butter and white wine, but every culture has put its own stamp on local seafood, usually in sauce form! Today we are discussing several traditional sauce recipes for your fresh seafood order from around the globe; easy inspiration for tonight's dinner.

Classic Pan Sauce for Fish

If you’re familiar with making white sauce or béchamel sauce for use in lasagne, vegetable bakes or a hundred other dishes, this sauce will be a snap. Instead of milk, as in white sauce, it uses fish stock and white wine. There is also some salt in this recipe -- white sauce is usually too bland to benefit from salting.

Chimichurri

Chimichurri is a traditional sauce from Argentina, and always uses parsley, oregano and garlic, three herbs and flavors that you are likely to have just lying around in the fridge and pantry. The accessibility of the ingredients makes this a popular sauce -- it is great with online seafood like swordfish steaks, salmon and mahi mahi.

Saffron Vinaigrette

The mouth waters … this recipe tastes like saffron and mustard and is used as a dipping sauce for shrimp online seafood orders, mostly. It is also delicious with crabs and scallops, and anything you would eat on a seafood platter.

Authentic Spanish Allioli

If you weren't hungry before you started reading this article, I certainly hope you are now! If not, you have tastebuds of stone. Spanish allioli, or simply aioli, is made with heaps of garlic and olive oil, traditionally ground with a mortar and pestle. You can simply buy aioli in a bottle, or take the easy way out and use a blender. Egg yolks provide an amazing richness -- this is wonderful with pasta seafood orders, like lobster or shrimp ravioli.

Lemongrass Ginger Sauce

Fish-based dishes dominate in Thailand, where people traditionally work the land for a living. Many are close to the coast and they often have to actually catch their own food. Lemongrass and ginger create a very distinctive taste accompaniment to your online seafood, and if you have a miniature food processor, it takes almost no time to whip up.

3 Favorite Octopus Recipes

2009-12-08T09:10:00.001-08:00

Octopus is one of the sea's last rare delicacies -- commercial fishing techniques as well as the trend towards aquaculture have made everything else so readily accessible and cheap. Octopus remains a rare treat, though -- and you need a rare treat of a recipe to bring out the best in those delicate little tentacles and suckers! Today we have a quick run through of our favorite octopus recipes (with full links) that you can use for when you buy seafood online and treat yourself to octopus.

Octopus Salad

You'll find most of the recipes using your seafood delivery of fresh octopus are salad-style dishes, but most (like this one) are suitable as main courses. This one pairs the octopus with minimal additional ingredients -- celery and carrot are the octopus's only accompaniments, other than dressing flavors. The dressing lets the flavor of the octopus shine through -- simple parsley, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt and oregano are the accompaniments.

Octopus with Linguine

A traditional, and delicious Italian dish, the octopus is better fresh, but frozen is just as acceptable. The octopus and linguine are again the main ingredients -- buying seafood online and including octopus is not often done, and people want to relish the natural flavor! Tomatoes, garlic, hot red pepper flakes, olive oil parsley and basil make this a very distinctly Italian flavor.

Pan-fried octopus with chilli, garlic and coriander

Away from Italy now -- far across the sea to Thailand, we find another of our favorite octopus recipes for your next seafood delivery. Around a kilo of octopus is needed to serve four people as an entrée, and the coriander, chilli and garlic is used as a dipping sauce for the pan-fried octopus. The herbs are suspended in olive oil, and are all used fresh -- this dish absolutely explodes with flavor!

The Health Benefits of Eating Tuna

2009-12-08T08:26:00.001-08:00

One of the easiest meats to incorporate in your dinner, it is little wonder that online fresh fish stores include tuna in a majority of their seafood deliveries. From the quick and easy tuna bake, to toasted tuna sandwiches for lunch and even tuna on toast for breakfast, we all know that tuna is easy to eat. What you may not realize is just how good it is for you! We take a look at exactly how tuna can help your health.

How much omega-3?

Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most investigated nutrients in the world currently, since their role in brain development and health, antioxidant effects, and positive results for arthritis and other inflammatory diseases started to be articulated. Tuna has:

1.504 grams of omega-3 per 100 grams when cooked under a dry heat
0.272 grams of omega-3 per 100 grams when canned in water and then drained
0.202 grams of omega-3 per 100 grams when canned in oil and then drained.

Just like boiling your vegetables, canning tuna in a liquid seems to make the nutrients actually leach out of the vegetable and into the surrounding water.

Tuna, and it's omega-3 content, has been seen to be beneficial for a whole range of conditions:

Macular degeneration: Both age-related macular degeneration and dry-eye syndrome were improved by increased intake of omega-3's
Heart disease: having only one to two servings of tuna or other oily fish a week from your seafood delivery can reduce the risk of heart disease enormously
Alzheimer's and dementia: Omega-3s from oily fish like tuna are known to be good for the brain -- they are crucial to a baby's brain development in the womb. Intake throughout life can also help prevent alzhemier's disease and dementia developing in the elderly.
Cancer: Omega-3s have been studied for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers, but the protective effects of tuna in your seafood delivery are most clearly seen against kidney and breast cancer.
Blood pressure control: Related to heart disease, consumption of tuna can help with blood pressure control,

The Gift of Food

2009-11-18T20:42:00.001-08:00

With Christmas just around the corner I was trying to figure out something original to get my parents as a special gift. They are in their 80s and have everything they could ever want or need. That’s when I came across a website where I could buy seafood online and have it delivered fresh to their door. They both enjoy crab and fresh fish and I decided this was what I was going to get them every Christmas.

The first year I ordered lobsters for them as well as some fresh clams. Their special seafood delivery showed up in time for New Year's Eve dinner. The next time I gave them fresh seafood for a gift I gave them a gift certificate and let them choose what they wanted to order. They ordered fresh swordfish and crab legs and this time I got an invitation to share the meal with them.

I was really pleased with how professionally run this business is; the seafood delivery is always fresh and always arrives the day after it is ordered. They offer a huge variety of seafood and always guarantee it to be fresh upon arrival. I’ve ordered from them many times for myself and have never had a single bad item.

Last year I was put in charge of hosting a business dinner for some of our clients. I decided to make it a seafood dinner with fresh fish, clams, shrimp, and crab. I planned the menu and ordered the seafood the day before the dinner. The seafood delivery showed up as promised the next day and the dinner party was a huge success. I actually gave the website address to several of the guests so they could order fresh seafood themselves.

Before I found this site where I can buy seafood online, I thought the only way to get fresh seafood was to go to a restaurant. That can be pretty expensive considering the portions you get are relatively small. I really like the idea of being able to have fresh fish and lobster at any time just by a quick click of the mouse. I know my parents have really enjoyed their seafood gifts and they always look forward to those special occasions when they get another gift certificate for fresh seafood. It’s nice to be able to find a gift they really enjoy and appreciate; I don’t ever stress about what to get them for Christmas anymore.

Cooking Calamari to Perfection

2009-11-02T21:54:00.001-08:00

There's no doubt about it, calamari is a hit as an entree, appetizer or bar snack in dozens of countries around the globe! Because more shellfish lovers have learned to buy seafood online, scrumptious squid dishes are being served everywhere. If your past efforts with calamari have resulted in a tough, chewy mess, it's time to learn to cook your calamari to perfection.

The first rule of calamari, no matter how you prepare it, is that it must be fresh. Unless you're able to walk down to the docks and purchase your squid from a seafood shop, look for an online vendor who offers overnight seafood delivery. Store your calamari in the refrigerator on ice and use it within a day or two.

The second rule of calamari is that you must cook it quickly, in less than two minutes, or slowly, as in more than an hour. Anything in between gives tough, unappetizing squid that will have your guests grimacing rather than asking for more!

The most common way to cook calamari quickly, as with shrimp and other forms of shellfish, is to fry it. Some squid lovers like it dipped in beer batter or with spicy seasonings added into the coating. Whichever way you like it, the key is to have the oil you're deep frying or stir frying in hot enough to quickly brown the coating without toughening the calamari.

Again, because you've learned to buy seafood online, your calamari rings for frying should be very fresh, without a strong, "fishy" odor. Experiment with batters for your squid and try serving it with dips like marinara sauce and tzatziki.

Another way to gain kudos for your calamari is by cooking steaks, rather than rings, with a quick frying method. Ask your online seafood delivery service if they can deliver pre-tenderized calamari steaks. These delicious slabs of shellfish can be dipped in egg and seasoned flour and sauteed for just under two minutes. Add a little butter and lemon juice, or experiment with delicate sauces, and you've got a squid dish even the most squeamish can love!

As we mentioned, you also need a way to cook calamari for more than an hour. The best way is braising, which simply means quick heat followed by slow liquid. Stir fry your sliced calamari steaks or rings in a little olive oil for only a minute (add some veggies like shallots or peppers for interest), then cover it with broth, wine or some other type of sauce and cook it slowly for a little over an hour, stirring and adding spices as you go.

This is a wonderful way to make calamari marinara to serve over your favorite pasta. Play with your own treasured sauce recipes and find ways to slow cook calamari into the mix.

No matter how you serve it, remember the rules for calamari:

1. Keep it FRESH! Buy seafood online and take advantage of overnight seafood delivery if you're not close to a coast.

2. Cook it fast or cook it slow. Anything else will be disastrous!

Calamari could become your family's best-loved shellfish, if you'll follow these rules. Get ready for requests to make squid a regular part of your menu.

Smoked Fish - Even More Savory!

2009-10-15T21:06:00.001-07:00

Are you skipping a succulent way to eat fish that can open a whole new world of flavor? Even regular fish eaters often miss the possibilities of smoked fish. With a quality online seafood shop, you should have some great smoked fish varieties easily available.

You may consider yourself a fearless fish- and seafood-eater, enjoying varieties like halibut, lobster and sushi-grade tuna regularly. Great online seafood shops, though, can also introduce you to their own special recipe smoked fish -- varieties like smoked salmon and New Zealand Greenlip Mussels.

Before you turn your nose up, imagining tough, dried fish strips, it's time to redefine for you the flaky goodness that is smoked fish. Premium seafood stores create succulent smoked fish onsite, often using special blends of ingredients like brown sugar and soy sauce. By slowly smoking fillets from fish like salmon, trout or swordfish over aromatic woodchips, the result is succulent and tender.

Look through your online seafood store's offerings for their smoked fish specialties. You'll be amazed that, amid the usual online seafood menu of Dungeness crab and Abalone, there are unusual smoked fish like thresher shark.

Once you've received your first order, your taste buds are in for a treat! Your first bite of savory smoked fish will have you planning your next online seafood order.

If you're inspired to smoke fish yourself, the store where you buy seafood often offers to their customers the same woodchips they use for smoking fish. Look for the traditional mesquite or hickory, or more aromatic woodchips like cherry or apple. Of course, they can also supply the fish fillets or steaks you need for the perfect fish smoking experience.

Don't miss this fantastic way to eat fish. Just think; a perfectly smoked set of salmon steaks could be on their way to you today! Explore the flavor possibilities presented by smoked fish soon. You won't believe what you've been missing!

Experience Awesome Abalone!

2009-09-29T09:17:00.001-07:00

You may be one of those people who considers abalone too exotic to experience. Here's a secret: once you try awesome abalone, you'll be adding it often to your menu. You see, abalone may be a shellfish, but its succulent steaks are as versatile as halibut or sushi-grade tuna. California Red abalone steaks, for instance, are delectable pan-fried in butter with a coating of macadamia nuts. But, like ahi, you can also use it for sashimi. No matter how you decide to eat your abalone, you're going to love the sweet, smooth flesh of this shellfish.

While you may be serving delicious chilled jumbo shrimp to impress your party guests, wait until they taste amazing abalone appetizers. The meat of this oversized sea snail takes a little preparation -- after all, it's largely muscle -- but the time it takes to tenderize this sumptuous treat is well worth it.

Many cooks start by slicing the meat of the abalone into thin steaks, tenderizing it and then baking, broiling or frying it. Premium online seafoodshops can also supply cleaned and tenderized abalone steaks, ready for you to cook. Like salmon, there are almost endless possibilities for serving California Red abalone. Great seafood cooks prepare hors d'oeuvres, appetizers and entrees with this sweet, scrumptious delicacy.

Another tip for gourmet cooks: it's possible to purchase abalone live in their beautiful shells if you'd like to experience it at the very peak of freshness. Check your favorite seafood shop for availability.

We're not finished singing the praises of this versatile shellfish yet! Abalone trim or "skirts" make crunchy little treats to toss with pasta. And a must-have accessory for abalone aficionados is panko, delicious Japanese-style breadcrumbs perfect for coating fish. Don't be afraid to jump in and experience abalone for yourself! You're going to find a new favorite at the seafood market!

Fresh Seafood and More Online

2009-04-16T19:30:00.001-07:00

Imagine a perfect world where no matter what state or city in the United States you lived in you could have access to fresh seafood whenever you wanted it even if you lived in the middle of the map. Now imagine a world where you could not only have access to fresh seafood at any given time but you could have it shipped fresh to your door for an affordable price and the very next day after you place your order. Finally, imagine that in this perfect dream world you receive the fresh seafood you want, the ability of having it delivered the day after you order it, affordable prices and shipping, then to end the dream you have access to wonderful recipes, wine suggestions for the seafood you choose, a suggested menu, as well as sauces and seasonings, and access to others who experience this dream world.

Wake up! Your dream of that perfect world of fresh seafood and other wonderful options can come true. Yes, you can turn your dream into reality with the wonderful and experienced on line assistance of a fresh seafood market that has been offering fresh seafood for years. Join the many individuals all throughout America that experience the fresh seafood, wonderful sauces and marinades, menu assistance, and a group of people with wonderful ideas. The company you are working with supplies only the best cuts of fish, the top of the line shell fish and other seafood products as well as the experience and knowledge to offer you seafood shipped directly to your door the very next day. The experience you will have with the seafood and other products you receive will keep you returning for all your seafood needs and the best part is even if you live in the middle of the map with no body of water around you can still enjoy the fresh seafood you receive when you live on the coast line.

Put an end to frozen and processed seafood dinners and say hello to the way seafood was intended to be eaten, fresh. Enjoy shopping for your seafood needs on line and in the convenience of your own home with a family owned company that has made offering fresh top quality seafood to America their life. With the experience and knowledge this company offers you can rest assured that your next catered event or special dinner will be a success when you have fresh seafood on the menu.

If you run out of menu ideas or you want to put an end to the fish sticks in your freezer that have been processed and made of a variety of fish you can rest assured that the fresh seafood you desire is right at your fingertips. Delivered fresh and the next day is what this company takes pride in offering to you no matter where in the United States you live.

Seafood for Any Occasion

2009-04-13T20:04:00.000-07:00

Are you a seafood lover but tired of only frozen and processed seafood from your local grocery store? Are you searching for something fresh that guarantees success for a bridal shower, baby shower, wedding reception or other special event? Your answer just arrived where you can find fresh seafood and more online and delivered to your door the very next day. Welcome to the online family that has been offering fresh seafood for years and now has made it available to you no matter where you live. You can enjoy shopping for your seafood online and in the privacy of your own home when you become one of many faithful customers.

Not only will you enjoy an endless selection of fish and fillets but you can enjoy crabs and other shellfish in the same convenient location. You will have seafood of different types to choose from as well as wonderful recipes for the times when your mind draws a blank and you want to impress family and friends. You will also find wonderful seasonings, sauces and ideas for preparing your fish as well as menu ideas. The possibilities are endless and your satisfaction is on the top of the priority list with the company that specializes in delivering fresh and top quality seafood to you and your family.

Discover the quality of customer service as well as seafood you will experience with this online opportunity. You can stay up-to-date on the latest fish fillets, recipes, sauces, or seasonings and side dish ideas. Not only will you have the option of wonderful fresh seafood but many other bonuses as well. You can start planning your next dinner or gathering with the assistance and ideas from the experts who know seafood. Best of all you can plan the event weeks in advance and order your seafood just days before you need them with the next-day delivery that is offered. No more wondering where to store the seafood you have to buy in advance to ensure you have the items you need.

Enjoy the best seafood and top of the line fillets when you trust you business to a company that has been satisfying even the toughest of seafood critics for years and will continue offering fresh seafood for years to come.

Fabulous Salmon Recipe

2009-03-02T21:10:00.000-08:00

This week we’re going to pass along one of our most favorite and best loved fish recipes in the hopes to inspire you to make fresh fish part of your weekly dinner menu. To reiterate, fish is one of the richest and most natural sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, as well as a host of B vitamins. Eating fish at least once a week is recommended by most nutritional counselors and has long been viewed as a staple in any healthy diet. So, let’s get on to the recipe!

This week we’re going to inform you of exactly how to prepare lemon rosemary salmon; not only is this dish delicious, it’s ready in 30 minutes tops! Before you start, you will need at least two fresh salmon fillets (preferably ordered from a high quality online fish market, one whole lemon (thinly sliced), four sprigs of fresh rosemary, olive oil and coarse sea salt to taste. Once you’ve gathered your preparatory materials, it’s time to preheat the oven.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and arrange one half of your thinly sliced lemons in the bottom of a glass baking dish. Once the bottom of your dish is layered with lemon slices, sprinkle them with half of the fresh rosemary. Now it’s time for the salmon.
Layer your fresh salmon fillets on top of the lemon and rosemary and then drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle on sea salt to taste. Once you’ve completed this step, it’s time for another layer of thinly sliced lemon. Sprinkle the top of your dish with the remainder of the rosemary and then bake your masterpiece at 400 degrees for a full 20 minutes.
We advise that you prepare a side of your choosing while you’re fish is cooking. We like fresh asparagus, rice, or perhaps a fresh green salad with a mix of spinach and romaine lettuce. By the time you’ve finished prepping your side dish, your fish will be done and ready to serve!
We can guarantee that you’ll be so impressed with your creation that you’ll wish you used a bigger baking dish! That aside, this fish recipe is well served with a chardonnay or blush wine and makes for an excellent light meal – light enough in fact that you may take seconds!

Which Wine Should I Serve with Fish?

2009-02-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

It’s very common for people to wonder which wines go best with which foods. This is especially true when the dish of choice is fish. People are often at a loss as to which wine to purchase in order to best compliment a particular fish dish. While the old adage says that white wine is best with fish is often true, the truth of the matter is that wine selection truly depends on the preparation of the fish in question.

If you plan to pair your fish with a particular sauce, your wine should be selected to complement your sauce of choice. It is a common rule of thumb that fish prepared in a heavy sauce will require a heavier wine to balance the flavor. Basically, the selection of wine you choose should depend on the preparation of the fish itself.

The good news is that choosing a wine shouldn’t be all that difficult when considering the “red and white” rules. You see, since we already know that white wine goes best with fish, at least you have narrowed the field by 50%, eliminating the right wine. Certain winemakers will make heavier white wines specifically for the pairing with fish in a heavy sauce.

It’s important to remember that, no matter what dish you’re serving, the wine you select should be part of a personal preference. It won’t matter how well a particular wine goes with your choice of fish if you absolutely despise the flavor of the wine. Your best bet will be to choose a nice white wine that meets your specific taste demands and then simply enjoy your meal.

If you’re planning to attend a dinner party to where you will be required to bring a specific wine, consider calling ahead to make sure that the wine you plan to bring is suitable both for the dish as well as the tastes of the host. Because wine is an acquired taste, it’s often difficult to pinpoint a flavor that will please every pallet. For this reason, when you have no other choice or you’re in doubt, you should select a nice Riesling or a chardonnay that is light and relatively sweet.

As always, remember that fish should be on your menu at least once per week, and if you’re into tradition, as so many people are, setting your table to include a fine wine with each of your fish meals makes for an excellent tradition to start!