Wednesday 7 March 2012

Grilled Dover Sole

One of the great classic fish dishes, Dover Sole (Solea solea) is in great condition at this time of year.  But quality comes at a price and it is not unusual to pay £35 per Kg in a fishmonger and £25 - £40 for a Dover Sole in a restaurant.  I bought this fish at The Good Fish Shop in Haslemere where they were on offer at a bargain price of £18 per Kg.  My fish cost me £12 and was ample for two people.  Ask your fishmonger to skin (both sides) and trim it (fins and tail) so it is ready for grilling.  Simply season with pepper, a little sea-salt, a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice and grill or bake for about 15 minutes for a 750g fish.  I prefer to bake it in a sealed pan which keeps the fish moist.  Serve with a knob of butter and seasonal vegetables.
The most sustainable choices for Dover Sole are those caught in the Eastern Channel or North Sea of the NE Atlantic using Gill Nets or Otter Trawls (Fishonline).

Thursday 1 March 2012

Sushi at the Park Plaza, London


Ordered this combination plate at the Ichi Sushi restaurant in the Park Plaza hotel, Westminster.  My wife and I had stayed here a couple of nights earlier and I was so impressed that I returned there after work with my son.  Started off with Edamame beans then we had the combination plate which comprised spicy tuna and crab rolls, tuna, prawn, eel and salmon nigiri and sashimi of salmon, tuna and seabass.
All beautifully prepared and presented.  At £40 it's not the cheapest but it is worth it for the quality.