gratus fermentatio
Well-Known Member
I know with Thankgiving so close most of us aren't thinking about fish, but if I don't post this while I'm thinking about it, it may never get posted at all.
When I was a kid (about 1968 or so) in the great lakes region of the USA, it was common for many delis & butcher counters to carry a type of smoked fish that I have not yet been able to identify & I'm hoping one of you folkes can do so.
Sorry, but I have no pics; the description is: A fish that looks much like a trout in general body shape & size, no scales, about 1.5ft long, black on the back & head, with a lovely golden color that starts just above the pectoral fins & goes all the way to & includes the belly area. The golden color runs from just behind the gills, very nearly to the tail. It had a slightly wrinkled look to it from the loss of moisture due to the smoking & was always gutted & smoked, the head, eyes & fins were always left on. I have no clue as to it being a fresh or saltwater fish, but since the great lakes are right there, I'd guess it was a local (freshwater) fish.
Now as far as I can tell, it's got to be a type of trout, or maybe a salmon of some sort, but damned if I know what type or where to buy it smoked like that. I suppose it's entirely possible nobody makes it anymore, I haven't even seen such a fish in probably 35 years; kind of like those smoked, unrefrigerated hams & sides of bacon that used to hang from hooks in the rafters of country stores down in KY & TN.
So if you can identify what type of fish this is, or know of anyplace that still makes them like that, I sure would like to know. Regards, GF.
When I was a kid (about 1968 or so) in the great lakes region of the USA, it was common for many delis & butcher counters to carry a type of smoked fish that I have not yet been able to identify & I'm hoping one of you folkes can do so.
Sorry, but I have no pics; the description is: A fish that looks much like a trout in general body shape & size, no scales, about 1.5ft long, black on the back & head, with a lovely golden color that starts just above the pectoral fins & goes all the way to & includes the belly area. The golden color runs from just behind the gills, very nearly to the tail. It had a slightly wrinkled look to it from the loss of moisture due to the smoking & was always gutted & smoked, the head, eyes & fins were always left on. I have no clue as to it being a fresh or saltwater fish, but since the great lakes are right there, I'd guess it was a local (freshwater) fish.
Now as far as I can tell, it's got to be a type of trout, or maybe a salmon of some sort, but damned if I know what type or where to buy it smoked like that. I suppose it's entirely possible nobody makes it anymore, I haven't even seen such a fish in probably 35 years; kind of like those smoked, unrefrigerated hams & sides of bacon that used to hang from hooks in the rafters of country stores down in KY & TN.
So if you can identify what type of fish this is, or know of anyplace that still makes them like that, I sure would like to know. Regards, GF.