Seeing my name always catches my attention because it is so unusual (on account of my Dad misspelling it on my birth certificate). However the boat is probably not named after me but rather Sarda sarda, a species of fish that is commonly called the Atlantic Bonito. It is my understanding that this fish received its name from the island of Sardinia around which it was caught but these days it is more commonly caught by commercial fishermen around New York's coast.Sarda sarda is often used in cuisine, especially in Japanese food. It has a cosmopolitan distribution though the globe and to my knowledge is not currently threatened or endangered by overfishing.
10 comments:
As a genuine sardinian, I can guarantee that the 'sardina' as it's known in Italy, it's one of the favourite food for BBQ parties back home, especially during the summer. We also marinate them in vinegar for some months after splitting them, something which at the same time cook them, conserve them and dissolve their skeleton so that you can eat them in a single bite without fear of spikes in your palate!
Bonito, or Katsu-o as we Japanese call it, is very popular in Japan. The most common way of consumption is Katsu-o-bushi, or bonito flakes, where bonito is completely dried out and flaked - they look like pine shavings you use in rodent cages... Anyway, just a few pinches of bonito flakes and a dab of soy sauce over a steaming bowl of rice will make any Japanese happy!
Another very popular way of consumption is bonito sashimi. Sashimi is usually raw fillet but with bonito, it is always smoked so there is an external layer of cooked meat but pretty much raw on the inside. I think this is because of the possibilities of sub-dermal parasites (but I'm not sure). You can have this as a nigiri (the most famous form of sushi) as well.
Sarda Sarda! How perfect is that? :-)
Out of interest, how would your name be spelt if your Dad had got it "right"?
Gufo and Mambo - thanks for sharing the recipe info!
John - Sharda, after a Hindu Goddess
I used to catch bonito when fishing from Ascension Island. It's also quite often what is inside a can of Tuna :)
That's a boat name you'd always like to have!
Is your name one of the factors that made you call your blog Fish Feet?
haddock,
are you sure? the taste of the two fishes is distinctly different, not to mention the size difference...
whoops, found the reason. Sarda Sarda is actually quite a large fish, up to 3/4m long. The fish I was talking about are sardines, pilchards in english. definitely smaller; and in a can you can fit more than one.
Also, definitely tastier than tuna.
Global Warming Awareness - No, just a happy coincidence! I have a little bit about 'Fish Feet' in the column on the right
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