Friendly Friday – Something Fishy

• Sofia Alves

I’m Portuguese. I’m used to fish. Somehow, fish almost defines us. Any tourist shop in Lisbon is covered in some sort of crafts representing sardines. And I hate sardines. In Portugal there are 365 ways of cooking salted cod, our faithful friend. Now I live in Scotland. The UK is probably the only island with a bad relationship with fish. It is expensive and most people don’t like it, or, when they do have any fish, they murder it under batter and vinegar. Now I’m discovering the faithful friend without being dried and salted and I so much prefer cod au naturale. Silver linings and all that…

I am used to fish. My knowledge isn’t as good as my Fathers. He’s the one to go to the fish market with. When we were on our summer holidays in the Algarve we’d go to the market often. I soon realised that trip required trainers. Unless you would want stinky flip-flops and feet.

I have never had so much fish or seafood abroad as when I was in Japan. As ordering food there required a bit of courage and hope for the best, we were lucky to have experienced some remarkable delicacies (and others not so much). Almost 10 years on and I still remember how much I disliked the famous Osaka octopuss balls…

Posted for Amanda’s Friendly Friday Challenge

19 thoughts on “Friendly Friday – Something Fishy”

    1. There’s been a lot of talk here about how much cultivated salmon suffers as there’s a lot of salmon farms in Scotland. We try to balance our diet with more veg but we’re not vegan or vegetarian. I’ve never understood why some people are against eating meat but having no issues with eating fish.

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  4. Excellent post, Sofia. I am thinking I should have been born in Portugal! It sounds like the seafood nation of the world. The Japanese diet also has lots of seafood, but the flavours like Octopus balls, are a challenge. I prefer fresh fish, prawns, mussels, cray, lobster fresh or served with some garlic perhaps. I am not sure if I have had salted cod, but I do like sardines! And I have to confess, battered and deep fried. But fresh is really the best!
    Thanks for joining in on the challenge – I so enjoyed reading your post.

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    1. We have two neighbours, Spain and the Atlantic and we tend to look towards the sea 🙂
      Never heard of battered and fried sardines! I’m not sure I would like them like that either but I could try.
      I’m glad you enjoyed my post Amanda.

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      1. Although I have had battered sardines at a gourmet restaurant, it the cod that I mostly have batted and fried, Sofia!
        Having the sea at your doorstep, I can imagine the Portuguese would indeed look to the sea. You had some excellent seafarers and were king of the waves in years gone by.

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      2. I wonder what my parents will think of battered sardines… More to come on that subject 😀

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  5. I had a work colleague who was Portuguese and he told me all about their love of fish & seafood. The thing is, he was also violently allergic to seafood.
    I was so alarmed – we regularly had lunch together – and asked him 1) where’s your epi-pen? and 2) does it mean you don’t eat fish?
    He responded by 1) patting his front pocket and 2) rolling his eyes and saying “Of course NOT!”

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