haha
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I eat mostly wild, unfrozen salmon all summer. But Pacific Cod, called "true cod" around here to distinguish it from another excellent but quite expensive fish called black cod, is my go-to fish all the rest of the time. Cod is the ancient protein staple of the North Atlantic / North Sea /Irish Sea, English Channel and anyone else who fished these same waters. And of course for both Atlantic and Pacific Coasts here in North America, for peoples which had ships/boats and sailing knowledge. Trader Joe sells frozen Pacific cod which is very good for stews and such; and also Haddock and Hake which are both excellent white fish for similar uses. Hake has often been considered a trash fish, but I've tried it in tomato stews or creamed, and like it very much. Likely it is also good for fish n chips, but I have not tried this.Went to the grocery today and started paying attention to prices. Tried cod instead of salmon (half the cost) and came up with an excellent recipe reminiscent of sea bass. Might be kind of interesting, and learn more about cooking. Found some interesting less expensive alternatives on several items. Don't HAVE to, but thought we'd give frugality a try as we enter into retirement, to see what happens.
Cod is not exactly cheap by the thrifty standard of this board, but I don't know what fish would be. I pay $10.95 either at Asian market, or downtown in the Public Market, and sometimes for a bit less at my local QFC. Overall, I find Whole Foods fish excellent, but too expensive compared to other equally good or better, but cheaper, sources. Usually the "cheap game" does not thrill me at all, though I do always keep my eyes open for quality at a price; and I know what I am buying. I bought a whole 5 pound Copper River sockeye yesterday for $10/#. I had GF over for lunch and we baked the whole posterior part of the fish. Incredibly good. And we'll have the steaks forward of this piece for a few days until they are gone.
For me, the cheapest good fish is a Mackerel that the Japanese call Saba. Usually less than $5/lb.
Ha