Category: Seafood

Oysters and Pickerel

Dinner from the Billingsgate Seafood Market.  Pan fried pickerel (Manitoba Walleye?) with a Cobs bread country grain roll.  The seafood market and bakery are almost next door to each other. Perfect. I had the pickerel for the first time earlier this week at Big Fish.  It must be in season as they have it at the market.  It is a very delectable white fish and sustainable from what I hear. There are some concerns about mercury content, so eat in moderation.

Click to access mercury_in_fish.pdf

The oysters were from Komo Gway in BC. I prefer west coast oysters if eating them raw, they seem to be less gritty than the east coast ones. Broiled with bread crumbs, butter and cheese… the second best way to eat oysters.

http://www.chefs-resources.com/Komo-Gway-Oysters

Billingsgate Lighthouse Cafe

I’ve known about this place for a while, but just got around to trying it.  Billingsgate Fish Co. has both a seafood market and a diner.  Their fresh sea food in the market is superb.  I brought home oysters in the shell and pickeral. The cafe is a nice idea, you can pick anything from the market and they will cook it for you.  This is mostly a fried fish kind of a place.  My friend had the Boston clam chowder.  I sampled it, it was good, but had a strong flavor of tarragon.  I find tarragon to be pretty overpowering and should be used sparingly.

We shared the crab cakes which tasted house made. Very good. The oysters in the burger were plump and delicious, but they spent too much time in the deep fryer and were dark brown. Same with the fries.  For a diner, I think its’ good value. I would come back if only for the freshness of the seafood.

Billingsgate Lighthouse Cafe on Urbanspoon

Big Fish Dockside

Where in landlocked Calgary, can you find good seafood? Big Fish!  This would be the second time I’ve visited, and it won’t be the last.  If you like oysters on the half shell, Mondays are two for one. We made a raid on them.   Their fish dishes were perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. We also had dessert.  The Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie with Praline Vanilla Bean Mousse and Caramel was sooo good! Holiday Monday, we practically had the restaurant all to ourselves.  We had a diverse group (including a gluten free diner) and our server was very patient with offering menu suggestions. Will return to sample more of the menu.

They source what they can locally and the fish… well it’s pretty fresh.

Big Fish Dockside on Urbanspoon