Seafood focus: Peggy's seafood selections
Bernard Matthews salmon fillets in a wholemeal crumb
Kids are a spoilt lot these days, aren't they? Atlantic Norwegian salmon fillets coated in breadcrumbs were developed because the government wants the little 'uns to be eating more oily fish. And they used to be satisfied when the only fish seen on kids' plates came in finger shapes.
The boffins tell me salmon fillets are good for adults too. They're naturally rich in Omega 3 oils. I had to ask - it plays an essential role in the immune system and in general health and development. And they're a lot tastier than those fishy oils my old mam used to force me to take before bedtime. They'd help me grow up big and strong, she said.
Bernard Matthews Foodservice: 01603 872 611 www.bernardmatthews.com
M&J Seafood supremes
The lads at M&J Seafood have it tough. They reckon the quality of their new range of portion-controlled, fresh, exotic supremes is guaranteed because they have visited the source. The red snapper, barracuda, mahi-mahi and kingfish are caught between the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal off the most southerly tip of India. The aim is to ensure the whole supply chain is temperature-controlled and that the fish can be traced from the kitchen back to when it was caught. Sourcing the fish in this way also provides a fair income for the local communities. The portions come vacuum-packed and boneless, square cut, with skin on for better presentation.
M&J Seafood: 01296 333 848 www.mjseafoods.com
Lyons extra-large, hand-peeled, coldwater prawns and crayfish tails
I've never been a fan of the shrivelling effect that salty seawater has since a rather disappointing day trip to Skegness some years ago. But Lyons Seafoods clearly have no such problem and can still justifiably call their hand-peeled, cold-water prawns and crayfish tails 'extra large' even though preserved in brine. Which is more than the bloke who took me to Skeggy could claim. With a 60-day shelf life, they're a good alternative to frozen shellfish. The two new products are available in four different pack sizes.
Lyons Seafoods: 01985 224 300www.lyons-seafoods.com
3G Food Service sustainable seafood
All I know about seafood sustainability comes from the goldfish we have in our back pond. The cat used to get at them so we stuck a net over the water. Now the little fishes swim around safe in the knowledge that they're 'sustainable'. Tigger just sits around, looking glum. I gather fishermen's methods to make sure their catches won't cause entire species to die out are a bit more advanced. 3G Foodservice has introduced a new range of frozen seafood, all sourced from these sustainable sources and processed in the UK.
It includes breaded scampi, salmon and monkfish coquille and West Country whitebait fillets. These traditional favourites are great for us - they'll please the punters and we can sell them with a clear conscience, too.
3G Food Service: 0870 850 5213www.3gfoodservice.co.uk
Whitby Seafoods fishcakes
I remember the fishcakes we used to get at school - disc shaped and mushy they made excellent missiles. But I'm told that things have moved on since. Fishcakes are all the rage with celebrity chefs like that nice young man, Jamie Oliver. We've just bought some of these posh new fish cakes from Whitby Seafoods. There are two kinds - Thai, and cod and pancetta. They use freshly-prepared potato pieces, can be deep fried from frozen in nine minutes, or oven baked in 17-20 minutes.
Whitby Seafoods, www.whitby-seafoods.com
