Love British Seafood caught by your local fisherman and fisherwomen
The Crabstock Boys • February 17, 2021
Andy Hunting UK food blogger at Andy’s Kitchen and Adrian Bartlett retired fisherman of 35 years are Love British Food Ambassadors and known as The Crabstock Boys. Here they tell us why now is the time to support the British fishing industry and EAT BRITISH FISH!
Buying British Seafood is now more vital than ever, we must support this industry who risk there lives every time they leave the harbour.
The fishing industry is one of the oldest industries in the UK, and over the centuries the fishing industry have been supplying fish and shellfish within miles of the fishing villages they set sail from, each day landing and providing the local area with their catch caught in calm and gales.
The industry has been supplying sustainable, and extremely healthy naturally caught seafood from around our shores. And then over the year’s markets emerged further inland and into foreign markets.
The UK fishing industry over the last 30/40 years has had to look at the foreign markets for selling there catch simply because the rest of the world understands what the UK fishing industry catches in our waters, ours and your UK seas have the best diverse species in the world with over 100 different species being landed throughout year. Over the years the UK public with no fault of there own have lost the desire to try to eat fish and shellfish outside the main species i.e. cod and haddock and almost certainly cooked in batter.
This time of year (Winter) why not search out Whiting, which is a fantastic tasting fish and a fine substitute for cod or haddock in batter, also Flounder which is lovely oven roasted on a bed of cherry tomatoes and served with couscous, or Dabs just simply grilled whole and served with garlic butter with a squeeze of lemon, just simply divine.
Over the last 10 years we have been walking the boards at various food festival demo stages throughout the land promoting our Great British Seafood, in our very unique way.We really engage with the general public and show them that cooking seafood isn’t hard or tricky, and is best cooked simply.
While Adrian talks about his experiences at sea, and the harsh realities that follow the industry, Andy is cooking up several dishes beside him, with banter and repertoire normally found on a different stage, we certainly like to keep the public entertained but also educating them for want of a better word.
With this awful pandemic coming to our shores in 2020 and continuing in 2021 the importance to eat local is more apparent, all food producers on the land and on the sea produce the best food in the world and all who grow and catch are our Food Heroes and should be supported and recognised.
In these awkward times what is not to love by understanding where your seafood is from and by buying locally caught seafood you are supporting the industry and their livelihoods, the fishing industry is an unseen food supply as their boat is, they live a fisher’s day and when its calm their life is to the horizon and when its rough its 6 to 7 waves and one of them might catch them out
There are many ways to buy and support your fisherman and women, type in on a search engine find my nearest fishmonger, fish delivered to your door, local van fish rounds or if you live on the coast and under COVID-19 rules you will find them in all or most harbours, or you can by direct for the boats go and talk to your fisherman (they won’t bite). Social media is another excellent way to find your shellfish and fish, throughout lockdown we have become home chefs so next time put UK caught Great British seafood on your plate.
Seafood is a Superfood. Eating it regularly will be better for your Heart, Mind & Sole.
The Crabstock Boys championing UK seafood bringing the coast to the countryside.
Andy and Adrian
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