les marchés de poissons
When you visit a market in France, deciphering vegetables is generally obvious. The appearance, despite the French sign, gives it away. “Un chou-fleur” which looks a cauliflower, is a cauliflower.
Fish is trickier. Moreover, there are many fish in France that are not available in the States. Here are some pointers should you want to purchase fresh fish in a French fish market (or order fish on a menu). Remember that fish (as well as vegetables) is purchased by the kilogram, not the pound. Approximately 2.2 pounds equal to 1 kilogram. The following describe how the fish is cut or caught:
- “pêche locale” means that the fish was fished locally.
- “de côte” means “of the coast.” For example barbue de côte means that the fish, barbue (brill), was caught right there on the coast.
- “de ligne” means the fish was line-caught.
- “ griller”, for example, “saumon à griller”, means that that salmon is good for grilling.
- ”sur arêtes” means that the fish has not been filleted and still has its backbone (une arête is a fish bone).
- ” joue” is a cheek. “Joue de lotte” is a monkfish cheek.
- “les filets” is fillets (i.e., les filets de Maquereau” are mackerel fillets)
- “goujonnette” is a long piece of fish (or it can be meat) cut sideways and fried.
- “la darne” is a steak of fish as opposed to a fillet (i.e., la darne de saumon is a salmon steak).
The following is list of the most common fish you will find in France in the markets with a short description.
Bonnes courses !
LM
