Seafood!!! Images for the body and the soul (from Venice’s Rialto fishmarket)

Today’s post is food for the body and soul, images from Venice’s seafood market in Rialto.

Rialto Fishmarket in Venice

I love fishmarkets!!! As you can tell from a sequence of posts already dedicated to them!!!!

No words or explanations or arguments are necessary.

Red Mullets - Barboni - Μπαρμπουνια

Alici - Γαυρος

Sardines - Sarde - Σαρδελλες

Sardines - Sarde - Σαρδελλα φιλετο

Molli

Orate

Papaline

Monkfish - Rana peskantrice - Πεσκανδριτσα

Palombo

Eel - Anguila

Swordfish - Pesce Spada - Ξιφιας

Skate - Razza - Σαλαχι

Skate - Razza - Σαλαχι

Sole - Sogliola - Γλωσσα

San Pietro

Scorpion Fish - Scorfano - Σκορπινα

Tuna

Scallops - Canestrelli - Χτενια

Scallops - Capesante - Κοχυλια του Αγιου Ιακωβου

Cuttlefish eggs - Latti di seppia - Αυγα σουπιας

Small cuttlefish - Seppioline - Σουπιτσες

Cuttlefish - Seppie Grosse - Σουπιες

Small Octopi - Folpi - Χταποδακια

Octopi - Piovra - Οκταποδες

Calamaretti

Calamari

Mazzancolle

Scampi

Soft Venetian Crab

Canocce

Squilla - Canocce

Istanbul food markets and street food – Εικονες απο τις αγορες τροφιμων της Κωνσταντινουπολης

Σημερα θελω να μοιραστω μαζι σας μερικες εικονες απο τις αγορες και το γρηγορο φαγητο της Κωνσταντινουπολης.

Today I want to share with you some images from Istanbul’s markets and street food stalls.

Golden Horn - looking south

Η Κωνσταντινουπολη σημερα φιλοξενει 15 εκατομμυρια ανθρωπους.

Istanbul is today a gigantic metropolis, sheltering more than 15 millions.

Bakery in Beyoglu

Το ψωμι ειναι πεντανοστιμο και αφθονει.

Bread (ekmek) is delicious and abundant.

Greens in Beyoglu

Οι πρασινες σαλατες και τα μυρωδικα ολοφρεσκα και λαχταριστα.

The greens are so fresh I could hardly resist eating them on the spot!

Dried peppers, eggplants and chillis

Η μεγαλη ανακαλυψη της ξηρανσης των τροφιμων, εφαρμοσμενη στις πιπεριες, τις μελιτζανες και τις καυτερες πιπεριτσες.

Dried vegetables like peppers and eggplants are very popular.

Spices in the Spice Bazar

Ενας ολοκληρος ωκεανος απο μυρωδικα στην αγορα!

And of course the spices in the Spice Bazar!

Pastirma - Air dried beef

Ο υπερτατος μεζες, ο καταπληκτικος παστουρμας, το προσιουτο της Ανατολης!

The absolute delicacy, the prosciuto of the East, pastirma!

Cheeses

Τουλουμοτυρι και γραβιερα!

The white goat’s cheese is soft and juicy and very tasty!

Pickles in Beyoglu

Ολων των ειδων τα λαχανικα τουρσι, μαζι με ελιες.

Pickled vegetables and olives.

Fishmongers in Beyoglu

Το καλκανι κορυφαιο στην πυραμιδα των θαλασσινων και των ψαριων! Ακολουθει το λαυρακι.

The fish is also abundant, and the local delicacy is “Turbot” (Kalkan). Sea bass (levrek) is also very popular.

Fish shop in Beyoglu

Ωρα για μεζεδακια αρνισια.

After the fish, time for lamb delicacies!

Lamb delicacies

Μονον οι γενναιοι να ελθουν! ΚΑρδιες, μυαλα, και γλυκαδια. Δυστυχως δεν βρηκα αμελετητα.

Here we have food for the brave! Hearts, brains and sweetbreads! Could not find any testicles though!

Flat bread woman

Αυτη η γυναικα ειναι στην βιτρινα ενος ταχυφαγειου, και ζυμωνει για να ψησει τις πιτουλες που σερβιρουν για ψωμι.

This woman is on the display window of a fast food shop (!!!) and is preparing the dough for the flat bread they bake on the spot!

Doner Kebab

Και το περιφημο ντονερ σε δυο εκδοσεις, με αρνι και με κοτοπουλο.

The famous doner kebab in two types, lamb and chicken.

Fast food display

Αν θελετε κατι παραπανω απο το κεμπαμπ, κοπιαστε παραδιπλα!

In addition to doner kebab, you can also taste something like this in the fast food shops!

Sweets, dry fruits and nuts

Ο παραδεισος των ξερων φρουτων, και των ξηρων καρπων, μαζι με τα γλυκα σουτζουκια.

If you like dry fruits and nuts, this is a paradise for you! In addition, notice the long cylinders hanging, they are sweet sudjuk, which tastes like turkish delight.

Sweet woman

Αν πεινατε ακομη, το καροτσακι θα σας βολεψει.

And if all of the above is not enough for you, you can still grab something from the cart!

Sweets on wheels

Και λιγο μπακλαβας, σαμαλη και λουκουμακια συμπληρωνουν το κολατσο!

And continue with the display below!

More sweets

Για να μην παραμελησουμε και τα σεξουαλικα, ας παμε εκει που ο Σουλτανος προμηθευοταν τα διεγερτικα του.

Sex life cannot be left on the side. After all this food, there is urgent need for refurbishment.

If the Sultan was using it, it is good for me too!

Επιστροφη με το τραμ της Περα.

Time to go home, riding the tram!

Tram bus in Beyoglu

Fish and Seafood in the Boqueria Market, Barcelona

Today I peesent some pictures of fishes and seafood from the Boqueria Market in Barcelona.  

Bacalao (Cod) 

Bacalao

Dorada (Dory)

Dorada

Escorpornas (Scorpion)

Escorpona

St Pierre

San Pietro

 Unknown

Rodaballo (Turbot). Note the dark colouring of the fish, especially compared to the ones of the Eastern Mediterranean, which feature pink colours.  

Turbot

Tuna 

Tuna

Navajas (razor clams). A perfect delicacy, as you can taste it in the food stalls inside the Boqueria, with parsley and garlic.  

Navajas

Navajas

Navajas

Navajas

A rich variety of crabs all over! It is like a dream.

Centollas (spider crabs)

Centollas

Necoras (Velvet crabs)

Necoras

Buey vivo (edible crab, cancer pagurus)

Bueys

Langostas (lobsters)

Langostas

Langostinos (king prawns)

Langostinos

Gambas

Gambas

Carabineros

Carabineros

Camaros

Camaros

Galeras

Galeras

Cigalas

 

Crayfish

A Visit to the Athens Fish Market – Part 2 — Επισκεψη στην Βαρβακειο Αγορα – Ιχθυαγορα – Μερος 2ο

This is the second part of the post on the Athens Fish Market.

As in the first part, all items are given with their Greek names. English names are given only when I am almost certain about them.

However, this does not mean I have not made an error somewhere.

Calamari

Calamari, squid. This is the medium size. I observed three sizes altogether.

Σαβρίδια Καρύστου

Savridia from Karistos, South Evia.

Σουπιές

Soupies (cuttlefish). An all time favourite!

Μαρίδα

Marida. A Greek classic, it used to be one of the cheapest fish in the market.

Not any more!

Σαργοί Πάρου

Sargoi from Paros. A rather rare sight, catch from Paros, that is now paying the price of careless fishing without any regard for the seabed and the sea world.

Κοκάλια Χαλκίδος

Kokali, a shiny fish from Chalkis, the capital of Evia, near Athens.

Γοφάρια Καβάλας

Gofaria from Kavala, in the North of Greece.

Λακέρδα Μυτιλήνης

Lakerda from Mytilini, Lesvos. It is usually cured in salt. I will publish a recipe in the near future.

Τσιπούρες Μονεμβασιάς

Tsipoures from Monemvasia, a medieval town in the south Peloponese.

Μελανούρια

Melanouria, meaning negrittos.

Κολιός Καρύστου

Kolios, a cousin of mackerel.

Γοβιοί

Govioi, unknown to me, looks like a river fish.

All in all, a satisfying visit.

To be continued.

A Visit to the Athens Fish Market – Part 1 – - Επισκεψη στην Βαρβακειο Αγορα – Ιχθυαγορα – Μερος 1ο

I visited the Athens Fish Market after a long time, having the impressions from my visits to Venice and San Sebastian rather fresh.

I was wondering what my home town’s market would give me as images, smells, offerings.

I will publish the post in two parts. This is Part 1.

Φαγκριά Αμοργού

I decided as a rule to keep the Greek names of the fish and seafood, as I find it hard to translate. The ones who know, will recognize it.

The ones who don’t will not lose much.

Ensemble

Θράψαλα Καρύστου

Thrapsala.

These are the “poor man’s” squid in Greece and I am ashamed to admit I have never tasted them.

This – unfortunately – does not constitute a proof that I am rich.

Θράψαλα – Γόνος

Apparently it is legal to fish the small ones.

Σφυρίδες

Sfyrida. One of the best fishes of the Aegean!

Σφυρίδα

Σκορπίνες

Scorpina. This rockfish makes a delicious soup.

Χταπόδια

Μόσχοι

Γαλέος

Galeos. This is a relative of the shark.

Μπακαλιάροι

Bakaliaros. In Greek the name of this fish is “cod”. And it is caught in the Aegean.

Μπακαλιάρος

Bakaliaros – detail

Μπαρμπούνια

Barbouni. The all time classics, – red mullets - they are fried, as they are very small for the grill.

Λούτσοι Ικαρίας

Loutsos. A very tasty white fish.

Athens Fish Market – The Hall

This is a picture from a previous visit, but I like it and the hall hasn’t changed since it was taken.

Visit to “La Brecha” Fishmarket, Donostia, San Sebastian

 

This is a report on a short and late visit to the fishmarket of “La Brecha” in Donostia, San Sebastian. I went there around 1130 hrs by which time most of the seaffod selling stalls were closed! 

The market is large and houses also meats, game and vegetables.

 

Congrio

Besugo – Sea Bream

One of the signs of freshness in the squid is the light grey - brown colour of its skin. When it starts turning rosy the freshness is gone.

The squid is not only fresh, but according to the seller it has been caught on hook, not on the nets. As a reult, it costs 50% more than the “ordinary” catch.

Chipiron (detail)

Cigala (detail)

Carrillera Rape - Monkfish

 One of my favourite dishes in the Basque country, and wherever else I can find them: hake and cod cheeks. The famous “kokotxas!”. Here we also have monkfish cheeks.

Unbelievable instensity of subtle flavour, as long as you know how to cook them! They are so delicate that I always prefer to cook them in very low fire, in order to preserve the flavours and the texture.

Kokotxa Bacalao - Cod

 

Percebe (detail)

 This is one of the many Spanish mysteries I have not resolved yet.

I have read the stories about extracting them from the rocks, seen the videos, but have not tasted them yet.

Sapito Negro

 I am not sure about the translation of this one, is it “catfish”. Whatever it is, it is sold with is liver sticking out. Which means that there must be a dish with it in the Basque country.

I need to do some investigation on this one!

 

Merluza - Hake

 Another of my favourites, the aetherial “merluza”.

Navajas - Razor Clams (detail)Not ot mention the razor clams.Seller

 

Lubina - Sea bass

Rockfish

A visit to Venice’s Fish Market – Part 2

This is the second part of the article on the Venetian Fish Market.

I start this with a Jackson Pollock painting, Lavender Mist. For some reason I have associated it with the cuttlefish photo that follows.

Pollock: Lavender Mist (NGA Washington DC, USA)

Cuttlefish

 I have never tasted this soft crab, but it looked so delicious that I was ready to buy it, eventhough I had no place to go and cook it. I tried to find it in the restaurants or trattorias without success.

Soft Crab

Granseole – Spider Crab

 

 

 

 

Canestrelli Sgusciati

 

Canestrelli are pilgrim scallops that are delicious! The work literally means “little baskets”.

 

Pescatrice Cheeks

I cannot resist to publish a photo of pescatrice cheeks that are a real delicacy, even though the photo is not that good.

 

Moscardino

 I would not like to attempt to trranslate “moscardino” into english, lets just say it is a small octopus like polipus.

Variety of Fish

The buyers in Venice know their stuff and they cannot be fooled. This in my view is one of the basic reasons that the quality of the products on offer is so high.

Buyer in Venice’s Fish Market

A Stall in Venice’s Fish Market

The building that houses the market has beautiful arches that are fully “clothed” and create a more fresh atmosphere inside.

 

Seller in Venice's Fish Market

 

 I cought this sellet at a moment of rest, while she was munching some fruit.

A visit to Venice’s Fish Market

Capesante - Scallops

It was a hot day in August when I decided to visit the fish market in Venice, to start the day the right way: with the flavours of the sea and the voices of the buyers and sellers in this beautiful city. One of the best things in a market in the Mediterranean is that people make a show of it. It is true street theater. And every day it is played with variations. 

Palombo – (Dog-fish)

And being in Venice, names have artistic meaning. Like our Bronzino, who painted the beautiful Allegory with Venus and Cupid (National Gallery, London) and is not only a tasty fish!

 

Bronzino

Bronzino:Allegory with Venus and Cupid

  

Polipo - Octopus

I absolutely love octopus! And always check its price. Here we have the freshest octopus for a price that is almost half of I would have paid in my home town, Athens, for an almost definitely an inferior product.  

Folpetti

 The little octopi are unbelievably tasty! And they need no cleaning aprt from removing the sacket with the ink! They must be boiled intact and served with olive oil, coarse sea salt and a bit of lemon. This is a ticket to heaven.

Gambero - Prawn

 I lke fresh prawn and shrimp raw, without any cooking! And the best test before you buy them is have one for test.

Scampi

 

Alici - Anchovies

Orata - Sea Bream

 

Spada - Swordfish

 

Rana Pescatrice - Angler Fish

 

 

Rombo Chiodato – Turbot