| There is an old saying, "When the tide is | | | | lawmakers, our environment and the health of |
| out, the table is set." | | | | consumers who indulge frequently in a diet |
| | | | heavy in farm-raised fish. |
| When my Finnish-born grandfather fished the | | | | |
| cold waters of Michigan's Lake Superior in | | | | While my research helped me to formulate some |
| his homemade hand-crafted boat, a generation | | | | conclusions that answer some of my questions, |
| ago, the bounty of the waterways contributed | | | | I encourage you to engage in your own |
| in delicious and abundant ways to the | | | | research and make your own decisions about |
| family's well being. | | | | the safety of farm-raised fish. |
| | | | |
| My mother's father never worried about the | | | | So I am leaving that in your hands. I'm |
| issues that I worry about today when I stand | | | | getting out of the boat and I am moving back |
| at a fish case, debating the safety, the | | | | into my comfort zone in the kitchen. Deciding |
| price and the environmental issues. | | | | on one special recipe to share with you for |
| | | | today's column was rough. Being a huge fan of |
| Steeped in my heritage is a great love of | | | | creative fish and seafood cookery, dozens of |
| deep-sea fishing, and of course, an | | | | great-tasting recipes floated through my |
| appreciation for the unmistakable taste of | | | | stream of consciousness. Finally, a stylish |
| exquisitely prepared, fresh caught, wild | | | | show stopping, yet quite simple technique for |
| fish. | | | | preparing salmon in a heart-shaped parcel of |
| | | | parchment paper, hooked my full attention. |
| That unmistakable taste is becoming | | | | |
| increasingly rare to find. | | | | Your guests will "ooh" and "ah' at the |
| | | | dramatic presentation of Salmon en Papillote, |
| It doesn't matter how accomplished a chef or | | | | a classic-French vintage-cuisine type dish |
| a cook might be, their culinary creations | | | | that perhaps your grandmother or mother |
| will be limited by the quality of their | | | | served at a fancy VIP dinner party in the |
| ingredients. A true connoisseur can tell the | | | | 1960's. Salmon en Papillote was a fine dish |
| difference. For example, a connoisseur can | | | | to serve on those special occasions when |
| taste whether they are being served a wild | | | | perhaps the boss was coming to dinner and a |
| Alaskan salmon or a doctored up farm-raised | | | | wife recognized how her skill as a hostess |
| version. | | | | could help her husband transcend the steps of |
| | | | a corporate ladder. |
| Today, an increasingly large percentage of | | | | |
| the salmon that is being sold in grocery | | | | I have served this recipe to guests in my |
| stores and in restaurants is not wild salmon. | | | | home and guests at catered dinner parties and |
| The salmon that is being offered for sale is | | | | it always resulted in kudos to the cook. |
| labeled farm-raised. | | | | |
| | | | Salmon en Papillote |
| Do you ever wonder how this trend of | | | | |
| farm-harvested fish is affecting natural and | | | | Cut large parchment hearts for each piece of |
| native aquatic environments and the | | | | fish. Brush the inside of the heart with |
| environment of our own bodies? | | | | garlic and herb-spiked melted butter or olive |
| | | | oil. Layer washed, chopped garden fresh |
| Haunted by important questions that nagged at | | | | vegetables, onions, leeks and one salmon |
| me to be answered, I headed to the computer, | | | | filet on one side of the butter brushed |
| where I waded through a vast sea of | | | | paper. Drizzle with white wine, fresh |
| information. With the world wide net at my | | | | Florida lemon, sprinkle with favorite |
| fingertips, I engaged in one of my most | | | | seasonings and herbs, and dot with a bit of |
| favorite passions- surfing the waves of the | | | | butter. Fold the other half of the heart |
| Internet researching treasure chests of | | | | over the food. Fold and crimp the edges to |
| information. | | | | tightly seal the food inside the parcel. |
| | | | Bake in a very hot oven of around 425 degrees |
| Where are we today with the issue of | | | | for approximately 18 minutes. The packets |
| farm-raised fish? Are they safe for us to | | | | will expand as they bake, causing the steam |
| consume? What impact are fish farms | | | | to circulate around the food, while retaining |
| presenting to the overall habitat of nearby | | | | the vital nutrients inside in a most |
| waterways? | | | | delicious way. When the parcels puff and |
| | | | brown the food is done. Transfer to a |
| The issues swimming around farm-raised fish | | | | preheated dinner plate, cut a small x in the |
| continues to be an on-going challenge to its | | | | top of each parcel, the intoxicating aroma |
| own industry, other commercial fishermen, | | | | will perfume the room and delight the senses. |