Billingsgate | Pantry Secrets

I don’t think you can beat British meat however the Uk’s fish is always a bit of a let down… unless of course you are lucky enough to live in lovely coastal areas such as Cornwall.

As you probably already know I love to spend time in Spain and being a fish fan, the choice of Spanish fish is another reason why I love the country so much. I’m always in my element when I approach their supermarket fish counters. There is such a vast array on offer, including salmon, squid, mussels, sea bass, prawns, lobster and many more types, all in different shapes, sizes and colours. Supplied by the local fisherman every morning , the fish is kept iced and never sits for more than a day, which is why it is always so fresh and delicious. You can’t beat a Spanish Dorado wrapped in foil with a little olive oil and garlic and cooked on a barbeque. If you are like me and are not keen on having to deal with all the gory bits remember to ask the fish monger to fillet and wash the fish for you.

I also love sardines in Spain, particularly the ones sold on the beach which are caught, cleaned and cooked by the fishermen themselves. I usually hate sardines as they have a lot of bones and a rather strong and unappetizing smell, but the ones in Spain are cooked on skewers over coals to give them a divine smokey taste; They are also very cheap which is a bonus.

I understand that the majority of people wont be jetting off to Spain anytime soon but rest assured I have good news for any fish lovers like me who hold little hope for our British supermarket fish…Waitrose is the place to go! I don’t think the fish we get in the UK is bad I just think that all Supermarket fish counters are a little basic and expensive. However, today I went shopping to Waitrose in Canary Wharf and the choice and prices were outstanding. They also have a small oyster bar next to the counter which looked popular. In the end I purchased a piece of cod which I cooked tonight with new potatoes, cabbage and a poached egg and it was lovely. The fish was perfect and didn’t have a horrible smell either which is a good sign to a fresh fillet.

Additionally, I’ve been told to visit Billingsgate Fish Market in Canary Wharf, which is open Tuesday to Saturday. The one issue is that it opens from 5-8.30 am and apparently the earlier you go the better, but it is meant to be worth it as all the fish is cheap and fresh ; You can always go back to bed afterwards.

So there you go, finally I have been shown that you don’t have to travel miles to get a decent fillet of fish and if this doesn’t remain the case at least we have some of the best meat in the world!

Note: Current fish in season are cockles, cod, coley, conger eel, crab, haddock, herring, john dory, langoustine, mackerel, plaice, pollack, prawns, salmon, sardines, sea trout, shrimp, whitebait.