Macgregors Seafood Notes

Well I'm back from the European Seafood Expo in Brussels - with a cold! Probably a combination of the flight and the non-stop rain while I was there. However, a small price to pay for a tremendous experience. This show is literally where the seafood world comes together, easily 3 times the size of the show in Boston - quite a lot to digest. Initially I found it a tad overwhelming as after the first full day I had barely scratched the surface and was worried that there was just too much ground to cover. But by day two, things started to take a bit a focus and I was able to find some promising vendors with some exciting product, who thankfully could communicate in English (12 years of French classes and I was lucky to be able to order breakfast properly!).

So, what's happening in Europe you ask? Quite a bit, really. Fish is a big part of menu's and people's grocery lists. The big items, so it seemed to me, were Whole Langoustines/Norway Lobster/Scampi - depending on who you ask, The European Bass and Bream, Monkfish, Dover Sole, Plaice, Shellfish - Oysters, Clams, Urchins. It seemed the French and Italian's were big on shellfish - beautiful clams and Oysters, Head-on Shrimps (always head-on). More North, the Danish and Dutch and Norwegians were big on Langoustines, Wolffish, Cod, Turbot, Sole, and Salmon. The Portuguese and Spanish had beautiful Snappers and Breams, Scorpionfish, Red Perch, tunas and Swordfishes. And of course the Irish and Scottish were representing their Salmon very well.

Over the next few weeks I'll be looking to work with some of these new contacts to bring some of these products back here. It looks as though I've found a very good Portuguese supplier that will do some Wild Euro Bream and Bass (very different from the farmed we carry), some very nice wild Mullets, Scorpionfishes and Groupers. As well, a great French contact for Belon Oysters, Live Langoustines and something called "Violets" which look like oysters, but have a soft shell and wonderful meat.

stay tuned...

Paul