Question Mr. Shreenan, is there a website that I can go to get information about fish, and and the natural flavors and texture they obtain, raw or cooked? I can't seem to find anything with the information that I need. I'm a server at a fish restaurant, so I like to have bits of information to share with my guest. It would help me find a fish that's more suitable to their taste and lifestyle.
Answer Rick, thanks for allowing me to help you with your question. I understand your dilemma. I will do my best to help. First can I suggest that you try all of the fish in your restaurant. In addition to that I can help you with a few things.
Generally speaking people who have never had fish but want to try it like white flaky fish that is very mild and taste like whatever it is prepared with. Examples might include Tilapia,Cod, Alaskan or Pacific Halibut, red snapper, orange roughy, any kind of seabass etc.
They also go for the favorite shellfish like shrimp, crab or lobster. Always recommend steak with the crab and the lobster. Its a nice sale and the meat offsets the richness of the shellfish.
Seafood savvy folks that are health conscious generally go for the high omega 3 stuff like Salmon, Chilean Sea Bass or Bluefin tuna. But will also bite on Yellowtail, thresher shark, swordfish or maybe even a Chipino (seafood stew).
With regard to taste and texture the darker the meat the stronger the taste and the fishier the smell. The texture will be divided into two categories. Pelagic species have no skeleton except for a spine so there are not bones. These are your loin fish. Swordfish, shark, and Tuna. The portions will be cut as steaks or cross sections of the loins.
All other fin fish is flaky and has bones. These are fillets. Salmon can be cut in steaks but I think the fillet is more widely accepted.
A great question to ask is " What is your favorite kind of fish?" or " have you ever had fish before?" "What about shellfish?"
Finally I am not sure if your restaurant serves sashimi but if so basically the same rules apply.
If you want something to share with your customers how about learning where your different menu choices come from and then look up the nutritional value for each of them. Some notables for body builders are high protein fish like Salmon, Sea Bass and Tuna. I mentioned high omega 3 oils in Salmon and Tuna.
My favorite fact about fish is that I don't get tired after I eat it like with a steak or other meat dish. In fact I always feel energized!
Well hopefully I have given you something to help. Thanks again for the question. I have to say that is the best question I have received to date!
Also I live in California so I am afraid that most of my examples are Pacific species. Again there is no substitute for your own experience so grab a fork. :)
