FOOD + DRINK
KENT ’ S SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD STORY CONT .
THE FISHMONGERS AT THE LAZY SHACK NOW HAVE THEIR OWN CAFE & RESTAURANT ON THE BEACH
Diversification of fishmongers also seems to be a common theme . No longer just selling fish , many are adapting and having on site restaurants , cafes , shops , boxes , and online portals . The Lazy Shack is just one of the growing number of Kentish fishmongers who also have their own restaurant or cafe . The Lazy Shack ’ s thriving cafe has tables on the beach and diners overlook the one fishing boat they use . The fishmonger shop is round the back and sells at wholesale prices and alongside the fish counter there is also a meat counter , vegetables and fruit .
The fish on sale at The Lazy Shack is seasonal and varieties such as sardines , Dover sole and mackerel are available from June to October , local lobsters from May to September , local plaice from May from December and local cod from October to March . Specialities like oysters are available all year round , along with haddock , langoustines and farmed fish like bream and bass .
A local fishmonger in Sevenoaks explained that there are very rigid fishing quotas for his fisherman and where they are allowed to fish , “ all based on science and sustainability .”
Supply issues during lockdown and the time lockdown gave us to reflect on our lifestyles and consumption habits , allowed many of us to rethink how we behave and set about the challenge of addressing the surging urgency to reverse climate change .
Consumer demand to eat fish that is out of season and to eat fish of a disproportionate size for what our own waters can produce , has forced fishmongers and fishermen to meet the demands in the past . But as attitudes are changing and consumers are becoming more educated about where and how our fish is caught , as well as the many other lesser known fish we could be eating that is abundant in our waters , there is now a real sense of change happening within the fishing industry in Kent .
Fishermen , fishmongers , restaurants , wholesalers and individual consumers are in chorus that where our fish has come from and who is fishing it , is paramount . There is a collective sense of responsibility within the local fishing industry in Kent that provenance and sustainability takes precedence ; and there is a rising sense of responsibility amongst consumers that the time to act and make better choices , is now .
FROM GURNARD TO POLLACK : LEST WE FORGET THE FISH WE FORGET TO EAT
More than 150 different species of British fish are caught off the UK coast but most of it is exported to Europe . With greater awareness and a shift in mindset , we could all help shift the pressure on our waters if we eat the fish we ’ ve simply forgotten about .
Langoustines are sweet and beautiful and sadly currently , most of them are shipped to the Mediteranean . In season all year round .
Pouting , coley and pollack are a sweet white meat and a great substitute for cod .
Gurnard is ugly but tasty and in season in March through to December .
Hake is mild and meaty and in season from March through to November .
Spider crab is available in the late summer months . Most of the meat is in the legs so it can be a bit tricky to eat , but it is sweet and delicious .
Plaice , flounder and Dover sole fatten up during the spring and summer , but get thinner as we head into winter because this is when they spawn , which uses up a lot of energy .
Mussels and oysters are at their best in the colder months .
Huss , a meaty white fish from the shark family is great for winter stews , fish curry and tacos .
Herring , anchovy , sardines , and mackerel are great to eat all year round because , at the bottom of the food chain they are more plentiful and not endangered .
Cuttlefish is adored in the Mediterranean , where most of ours is sadly shipped , it is an underrated relation of squid and octopus and similar in taste , it is also known as the ink fish .
Megrim sole is cheap and abundant , though it has looks only a mother could love . Cooked cleverly , it ' s a tasty and nutritious meal .
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