What we really meant to say of course was choosing the right wine to drink with fish dishes. Before we go on, the main rule of thumb is: there are no rules - drink what you like!

Once you are clear on that, we thought you may find it useful to know which wines particularly complement different types of fish.

First of all, the old adage of red wine with meat and white wine with fish is generally not far off the mark (with the odd exception of course). This is simply because fish tends to be lighter than meat, and white wine lighter than red. But just as there are lots of different types and flavours of fish, the same applies to wine. Consider the following:

• Fried fish - the bubbles of cava, champagne or prosecco go really cut through the weight of fried fish and provide a delicious partner
• Lean white fish (such as halibut and snapper) - simply cooked lean fish cries out for a dry and crisp wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grogio and Chenin Blanc
• Fuller bodied fish dishes such as crab or lobster, go very well with a fuller wine such as Chardonnay, Fume Blanc or Pinot Gris
• Spicy dishes - go well with a fuller wine with a bit of sweetness such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer or Marsanne
• Fatty, meaty, flavoursome fish (like tuna, swordfish, mackerel or salmon) can go well with a lighter red such as a Pinto Noir, Gamay or Grenache

Don’t forget - the main thing is - eat and drink what you enjoy, but you may be pleasantly surprised by trying something a little different!

Dr Kevin Warburton studied fish for more than three decades and has found plenty of evidence to show that fish are in fact quite sophisticated creatures. He said ““Fish can remember prey types for months. They can learn to avoid predators after being attacked once and they retain this memory for several months. And carp that have been caught by fishers avoid hooks for at least a year.”

In an article in the Daily Mail, it claims that scientists at St Andrews University found that many fishes … can learn their way around mazes, can learn to recognise other fish, and can remember which individuals are better competitors. And it states that, according to research at Plymouth University, goldfish have a memory span of up to three months - and can even tell the time. They trained goldfish to nudge a lever to get food.  When the lever was adjusted so it would only work during one hour each day, the goldfish adapted, learning only to press the lever around the right time!

So there you have it!

Coincidentally – eating fish can also help your memory. According to TopMemoryTechniques.com, “Both fish oil supplements and fatty fish, like salmon, contain memory and brain-power boosting omega-3 fatty acids. Fish has been considered brain food for many years. An investigative study has demonstrated, however, that in order to get the most effective results, it is better to consume the fish and not just take a supplement.”

And guess what - we can help! We sell a whole range of oily fish (and all kinds of fish in fact) in our online shop. Check out our:

• Farmed salmon fillets
• Organic salmon fillets
• Swordfish loins
• Rainbow trout fillets
• Wild brown trout
• Whole mackerel
• Hot smoked salmon
• Smoked kipper fillets

]]> http://blog.fishfanatics.co.uk/index.php/the-memory-of-a-fish/feed/ http://blog.fishfanatics.co.uk/index.php/theres-something-fishy-about-blue-monday/ http://blog.fishfanatics.co.uk/index.php/theres-something-fishy-about-blue-monday/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:03:10 +0000 admin http://blog.fishfanatics.co.uk/?p=307 Today has been deemed the most miserable day of the year. The third Monday of January is, according to psychologists, the hardest day of the year for many, courtesy of a combination of bad weather, money worries and failed resolutions. (It’s true - we haven’t just made it up - see here.)

If we weren’t feeling totally chipper, just reading that would be enough to make us feel down!

Surprisingly enough though, here at Fish Fanatics HQ, we eat plenty of fish - so maybe that’s why we aren’t suffering from “Blue Monday”?

In a recent article on the Daily Mail website “Why fish could be the answer to depression” it states that “there is good reason to believe that consuming more oily fish may help stabilise mood and combat depression“.

There is a lot of research that shows that the essential fatty acids present in Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils are very good for the brain and yet more often than not, our intake of these oils is low. Studies have shown that it is especially low in those prone to depression and mood swings. Thankfully - Omega 3 is readily available in a wide variety of tasty fish, especially the likes of:

• Salmon
• Trout
• Tuna
• Mackerel
• Herring
• Swordfish

So don’t let “Blue Monday” or any other day get you down. Eat at least 2 portions of oily fish a week (as recommended by the Food Standards Agency), and eat your way to a healthier mind and body.

Visit our site for more information on the numerous health benefits of fish.

And for some great ideas on what to cook with your fish once you have it in your freezer, check out our scrumptious recipes.

Natural Smoked Haddock : low calorie, healthy - and very tasty!

A new year often means resolutions and good intentions for a healthier diet and lifestyle. So it has never been a better time to introduce more fish into your weekly diet. The Food Standards Agency recommends at least two portions a week in order to benefit from this great source of vitamins, minerals and omega 3 fatty acids.

It is also well known that fish is very good as part of a calorie controlled weight loss diet. For example, here is a selection of fish and their calories count.
Source: weightlossresources.co.uk

• Haddock, Smoked, Raw (1 Serving/85g) 58
• Lobster, Boiled (1 Serving/85g) 88
• Prawns, Peeled (1 Serving/100g) 99
• Trout Rainbow, Raw (1 Serving/150g) 202

So whatever your resolutions, whether you are wanting to loose those extra festive pounds, or just get healthier, be sure to include fish. You can buy the freshest and tastiest fish from our online shop. And we have a great range of healthy lifestyle recipes to help you on your way too!

We wish you the best of luck with your resolutions and a very healthy and happy New Year.

Happy New Year Fish Fanatics!

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our friends and customers a very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.

We can’t wait to welcome you to our online shop in 2011 and help you add a delicious range of healthy and tasty fish and seafood delights to your freezer.

Thank you for your support and custom in 2010.

New York City Ball Drop

There are many different traditions that surround New Year celebrations – eating and drinking lots is just one of them!

One we came across recently was the tradition of dropping something to symbolise the arrival of the new year. It would seem that this is particularly prevalent in the USA where a whole array of unusual objects are dropped. The most famous “drop” is the original Times Square Ball dropped annually, broadcast nationwide live from Times Square in Manhattan, New York Cityon Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.

We thought we’d see if there were any fish dropped to mark this occasion, and surprisingly we did find a few:

To see a whole list, check out this Wikipedia article where items include a pine cone, French fry, cigar, a pickle, a giant M&M and a stuffed goat!

And you thought fish were weird! Personally though, we prefer to eat fish than drop it. What a waste!

Anyway, we thought we’d share some festive recipes with you to get you in the mood. All these recipes are on our site (along with loads of others too), so just follow the links for details…

Prawn & Ricotta Dip

• Cullan Skink Soup - a scrumptious, warming soup - ideal for these freezing snowy, days.
• Luxury Fish Pie - did you know that in parts of Italy, Fish Pie is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve?
• Fish Cobbler - another recipe to warm the cockles (pardon the fishy pun!) of your heart
• Fast Fishy Pizza - one for the kids. They’ll love this healthy but tasty variation of their favourite Italian snack!

And of course, all the fishy ingredients can be found at our online shop.

Fish makes us smile too!

The study suggested that the risk of gum disease is significantly reduced with the consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) which are found in fatty fish such as Salmon, Tuna, Trout, Herring, Sardines and Mackerel.

The diet of 182 adults were examined over a five year period for the research and it was found that those who consumed the highest amounts of fatty acids, were 30 percent less likely to develop gum disease and 20 percent less likely to develop periodontitis (severe gum disease).

And not forgetting of course the massive other health benefits of eating plenty of fish in your diet.

You can see the whole story here.

And you can stock up on the freshest, tastiest fish here!

Don’t forget - during November, we are offering 10% off all orders. Simply use the promotional code 10%NOV when you come to checkout.

Just another thing to smile about!

Andrew filleting a Sea Bream

But that’s exactly what our MD Andrew Franks was when on holiday recently. You can see him here looking very professional as he handles this Sea Bream (or Dorade as it’s otherwise known) before turning it into a delicious meal - Sea Bream with Herb Oil.

Sea bream, known as Dorade on the continent is similar to Sea Bass and a great tasting fillet. You know that tasty fish you had on holiday in the Med? Chances are it was Dorade. We sell it as a whole fish and also ready filleted for your convenience. Add it to your next Fish Fanatics order - we think you’ll love it!

The great British take-away

“The British chippy may never be the same again – thanks to a powdered vinegar that stops your grub getting soggy.

A small company has invented a seasoning combining salt and vinegar to sprinkle on takeaways.

It will ensure our great traditional dish is never again spoiled by too much vinegar. That annoying habit of your wrapping paper splitting and sticking to your food will also be solved.

Called Malt Salt, it is the brainchild of a US-based company called J&D and is made using natural ingredients, blending sea salt and malt vinegar powder. But it may be hard to change the habit of many fans who like the limp fish and chips at the bottom of the bag.” You can see the rest of the story here.

Is this REALLY what we want? Or do we like our fish & chips just the way they are? Let us have your comments….