Fishy treats

Yesterday Chrys and I were discussing how we went shopping for fish/chicken/mutton as kids. Chrys hated going vegetable/meat shopping and so did I. But it was a good training for us which we seemed to not have taken too seriously. Now both of us are really bad at it, I'm only marginally better than Chrys.
We both love fish, but have been resigned to buying and preparing the frozen variety because we just can't get ourselves to visit a messy fish market and bargain.

I remember my childhood visits to Kerala where the fish was brought in large plastic tubs placed on the carrier of a cycle. The cyclist would shout "Kooo" to indicate his arrival. Most of the river fish would be so fresh that they would still be flapping around in the tub. My grandmother would almost always buy Mackerel (ayala) and Sardines(mathi).These oily fish are a staple in Kerala. They are filled with bones but are delicious whether fried or made into a curry.

While staying in Chembur as a child, I remember the frail Koli lady who used carry a wicker basket full of fish and cry "Machi waliiii" walking around the fish-eating, mallu-filled housing society. People would call out to her from the balcony and she would trudge up the stairs to start a haggling session. Usually her basket would be empty within an hour.

Later in Kalyan, my mum would buy fish from the main fish market into which I ventured only once...for exactly ten seconds... and shot out because of the unbearable stench and slippery floors. So my training was incomplete. Although, my sis and I were quite adept at buying chicken and mutton from the local butcher, fish buying was a lost art.

These days, a very wealthy fisherman (with golden teeth and diamond ear studs) visits my building. Once or twice I enquired the rate of the fish he sold and backed away in horror on listening to the exorbitant price.

Recently we discovered pescafresh.com. You can call them up and place an order for your favourite seafood and it will be cleaned and delivered fresh to your door. We have placed our first order today... Bombay duck, fish eggs, prawns and mackerel. I can't wait for it to arrive!