Category Archives: Sea Treasures
Risotto with Calamari
Got some squids and I wanted to do the Chinese Salt & Chili Squid.. deep fried full of flavour with chili dip! Then the other one said “please no fry up today!”
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UK’s Fave Dish ~ Fish & Chips
Ah am missing England. Sunday drives in the country side, pub meals, Sunday roasts… Yorkshire pudding, sticky pudding and drive to the seaside for Fish & Chips.
Yes I do miss Fish and Chips.. quintessentially a British dish.
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Fishy Cravings… Oven Grilled Mackarel
My weekly “menu” always include fish. Always! I went to the fishmonger hoping I can find SALMON. Been craving of the way our friend in Stockholm, Sweden prepared it. She topped it with feta, cashews and some Thai chili sauce. I have re invented this for my crew mates in France and they all love it.
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Simply Quick Baked Fish
I was walking down the road when I pass the fishmongers and saw wonderful seabass (loup de mer) glistening, calling me “am fresh am fresh†For 13€ a kilo it wasnt too bad, got 2 pieces and ask him if he could clean the fish for me. Walking towards home my mind was swimming of LOUP DE MER EN CROUTE DE SEL.
Ever since Stel posted her Salt Baked Chicken my gastrofantasy was going in and out of the salted baked fish, which I discovered few years ago when I was working in France. On my visit few months ago at the organic shop I bought Atlantic sea salt. But oh, my salt wasnt enough to cover 2 pieces of sea bass. With a broken heart I opted for another baked fish.
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Squid with Tomato Sauce

Yesterday, my husband suggested we drive to the eastern part of Attica, to be exact our main destination is Rafina. A drab port really but it offers a gastronomic appeal. The area is so tacky due to seaside development but the fishing harbour has attractive spots of SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS.

Markus wanted to check the prices of the fish market there, in between each restaurants are fishmongers. He just thought some restaurants in Athens over charge you for fish. Anyway I would say its 10euro less out there. We had a small lunch along the harbour(post will follow). After lunch I bought squids prices differ some sells 20euro a kilo the others 22. We walked up and down comparing at the end it was not the price that justified our choice but the freshness.

Markus said would be great to do some stuffed squids. To be honest I have not done stuffed squid but if I had to do the greek way its rice and herbs. I was thinking of stuffing them with vegetables. But oh I did not have enough vegetables, must wait for the Saturday market. I went through some cookbooks Italian, Thai and even a spanish recipe of Squid paella caught my eye. But I will be travelling again soonest. I need a bit of overdose of Filipino food.
Besides its too hot to do a lot of work in the kitchen. I suggested that squid adobo will be perfect, ha am thinking of easy cooking here. Well just about to cook Karen logged in and we talked about food as usual. She suggested ADOBO TAPOS I GISA SA MARAMING KAMATIS. Adobo then stewed with lots of tomatoes. I told her I haven’t done that but am sure its tasty. My adobo by the way is my own conconction. I go beyond the basic recipe of adobo of vinegar and garlic.I washed the squids properly and separated the ink sacs. That time I was still contemplating of adding it or not.

Here’s how I did it:
1) Slice the squids
2) 3 cloves of garlic squash
3) some bay leaves
4) spring onions
5) small ginger peeled and thinly sliced
6) vinegar & a dash of soya
7) salt and pepper
black peppercorns
Mix them with the squids and gently simmer. Since the squids are very fresh they do not need a long time to cook, otherwise you will have a rubbery squid. While waiting, I sliced some riped tomatoes. Heated up the pan with virgin olive oil, added the tomatoes then transfered the squids to the simmering tomatoes.
Voila a delicious adobo with stewed tomatoes. When I served it Markus actually said its similar to the Greek way.
I have forgotten that the Greeks do cook this way but they mostly use cuttle fish SOUPIA ME SALTSA…and they put some rice to the simmering squid or cuttlefish till it absorbs the liquid. I served it on hot steaming jasmine rice and it felt so good!
A Fishy Lunch
That’s what M called our lunch today. After the gym I just wanted something light. A bowl of salad with cervelat. The guilty person admitted he ate all the cervelat in the fridge.
Cervelat is a style of sausage that combines pork or beef with various herbs and spices.

We went to the gourmet shop down our building. Quite a long queue but I really wanted to have something light so we bought some marinated anchovies, boiled shrimp (reker) and some herring.

The roe of the shrimp. I was thinking of the greek taramosalata . In Greece the roe of the carp- tarama is mixed with lemon juice, milk soaked breadcrumbs, olive oil and seasonings. Makes a great dip
The owner must have known us now that they offered us a bit of salmon tartare to taste and the heavenly foie gras touchon
Shall we get a bit? I could see M is nearly tempted to buy.
Didn’t we make a deal, a light lunch?
Oh the baguette please!

M said at this mess “LOOK at you!” For 20 odd years I have been allergic to shrimps, prawns, lobster, crabs. Last October when were in Stockholm, our friends prepared us crayfish for dinner. I said sorry I can’ t eat them but I did try a bit. NO itch, another bite nothing.
For some reasons I could not explain I didn’t itch so am taking steps by steps how I will react to the other crustaceans. M thought its probably a different water up here in the North Sea. Whatever is it I certainly did enjoy our lunch.
Grilled Halibut

Today my husband cooked some halibut and I am going to share to you his recipe in which is very easy to follow and difficult not to forget. As the taste of the marinate is just so wonderful.
For the marinade:
- about 1 tsp grated ginger
- Zest and juice of half lime and half lemon
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 bunch of cilantro, chopped finely
- Sea salt & freshly grinded black pepper
- Mix together and cover to infuse for 4 hours.
Preparing the Halibut
2 large halibut and sliced into 1 ½” thickness.
Ask your fishmonger to slice the fish for you.
Brush both sides of the halibut
Let it stand for 2 hrs turning once
Grill in hot griddle.
Spoon over left over marinade to the fish.
Lastly…
BETTER TO UNDERCOOK THE FISH THAN OVERCOOK!!!
When I took my first bite, my mind drifted to the Caribbean. The taste of the cilantro brought me back to this small local restaurant at Falmouth Harbour, Antigua. When we were there, hardly any foreigners sit in this local place but we did, it serves local fish and rice with beans. This place, Josephine is on the road towards Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour, where Nelson’s dockyard, a British Naval yard for the warships in the 18th century is located.
Fish straight from the Oven

After days of being in and out of sleep due to fever and sipping soups I finally felt better. I went to the market to buy some flowers. Voila nice fish stand next to the flowers. I got some mackerel which is very easy to cook. I only had an hour before I leave for my appointment. I baked the fish.
1) Season the fish inside out with salt
2) Stuff some onions tomato, rosemary and some parsley
3) To keep the moisture, I scattered more chopped tomato, onions, parsley and some green pepper over the fish.
4) Pour some olive oil
5) Cook in pre heated oven for over half an hour
Quick great lunch paired with lettuce feta salad.

The roe of the sea urchin is considered a delicacy and its best eaten fresh (live), spooned straight from the half shell.
the prickly sea urchin- archinoos sept 2004 skiathos
I never had sea urchin in my life, whenever I am in South of France, I just look at it with sheer curiosity.The thought d oursin, the prickly sea urchin just doesnt entice me to try it.
But one day as we were snorkelling in one of the most beautiful cove we discovered in Skiathos, a greek couple joined us.
They were obviously not there to sunbathe or to idle their time. I took my fins and snorkel, wondering what they were up too… it didnt take long that I realized they were “harvesting” sea urchins that have settled well on the rocky cove.
We saw them devouring each urchin and how carefully they cut it into half. After a while I passed them when I went to snorkel once again, but as soon I came out they invited us to share their bounty.We scooped orange roe with our fingers. It was fishy sweet taste…I think its a matter of getting used to the taste!







