Google

Friday, February 20, 2009

Gourmet Seafood Is A Great Gift!

Many people have distaste for the word “gourmet” until they learn the actual meaning of it. A gourmet is simply a person with a detailed knowledge of the finest food and drink. The term originally came from the French word “groumet” which is a valet in charge of wine. Gourmet seafood, then, is the finest seafood. Sending gourmet seafood as a gift is a special and unique way of showing a person that you care for them.

Gourmet seafood can be a gift to customers, clients or e...


Keywords:
gourmet, gourmet seafood, food


Article Body:
Many people have distaste for the word “gourmet” until they learn the actual meaning of it. A gourmet is simply a person with a detailed knowledge of the finest food and drink. The term originally came from the French word “groumet” which is a valet in charge of wine. Gourmet seafood, then, is the finest seafood. Sending gourmet seafood as a gift is a special and unique way of showing a person that you care for them.

Gourmet seafood can be a gift to customers, clients or employees. There are many companies that offer a pleasing and tasty selection. Careful attention should be paid in order to make the best choice for your important customer. Sending the gift of gourmet seafood is giving the gift of the prize of New England. Your employee or customer will be very pleased and delighted with the surprise of gourmet seafood arriving on their doorstep.

You should carefully consider which company you choose before placing an order of gourmet seafood. Some firms can be easily contacted about the details of your shipment and readily give information about when it will be arriving to your customers and employees. Many companies even offer discounts on a large order, for example, if your gourmet seafood order totals over $500.

The packages you can order include such favorites as Lobster Lover’s Feast or Surf and Turf. How about a Maine Lobster Party, or maybe just one or two live Maine lobsters? A hearty Shrimp and Steak Classic, rustic Australian Rock Lobsters or a Classic New England Clambake can also be ordered. Of course, the prices of these gourmet seafood packages depend on the quantity and the distance it’s being sent.

How to Order Your Gourmet Seafood

1. You should fill out a corporate gift order form and fax it in to the company. Or, if you prefer, the customer care line would be happy to take your order.

2. Make sure your billing address and the address your credit card company has on file are the same.

3. Make sure you place an order well in advance, at least 48 hours prior to when you need it to be shipped, in order to avoid any emergencies. If your gourmet seafood company cannot process your order, they should contact you immediately and provide you with other options. Always ask for a confirmation of the corrected order if this happens.

4. The gourmet seafood company will contact you just before they process the order to your credit card, in order to get your final confirmation.

5. If you receive a discount, the gourmet seafood company will deduct it from the total, usually before the shipping charges are added.

6. Many gourmet seafood companies will notify the recipient via email, so they’ll know when they should expect their package. They will also send you an email when the package has been successfully delivered.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Choosing And Buying Gourmet Seafood - Wild American Shrimp

When selecting items for a seafood feast, wild caught American shrimp are popular among gourmet cooks. Shrimp are not only recognized for outstanding flavor but they can be an important part of a healthy diet.

Wild American shrimp are delicious steamed, boiled, grilled, fried and in recipes such as scampi. They are also popular as an appetizers such as shrimp cocktail, bisques and salads. They also freeze well and can be purchased in large numbers, processed and excess amo...


Keywords:
gourmet, seafood, recipes, cooking, American, shrimp, food, health


Article Body:
When selecting items for a seafood feast, wild caught American shrimp are popular among gourmet cooks. Shrimp are not only recognized for outstanding flavor but they can be an important part of a healthy diet.

Wild American shrimp are delicious steamed, boiled, grilled, fried and in recipes such as scampi. They are also popular as an appetizers such as shrimp cocktail, bisques and salads. They also freeze well and can be purchased in large numbers, processed and excess amounts frozen for later meals.

Shrimp tend to be low in fat and calories and have no carbohydrates or trans fatty acids. They contain vitamins B3, B6, B12, vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids and are sources of tryptophan, selenium, protein and minerals including iron, phosphorus, zinc and copper.

American species include white (Litopenaeus setiferus), brown (Farfantepenaeus aztecus), pink (Penaeus duorarum) and royal red (Pleoticus robustus or Hymenopenaeus robustus) rock (Sicyonia brevirostris) and Northern (Pandalus borealis).

Shrimp are sized by "count". The number is the average number of specimens per pound. This applies to both whole and heads-off products. For example, headless shrimp of 16/20 count means there are 16 to 20 headless product per pound. Counts for headless product typically range from 16/20 (large) to 60/70 (small). Pacific pink shrimp are even smaller, having counts of about 100 to 140 whole shrimp per pound.

Wild American shrimp are also a good choice in terms of sustainability. Many of the American fisheries have been recognized for ethical harvesting techniques.

The Wild American Shrimp Certification Program certifies that warm-water, wild caught shrimp from U.S. coastal waters meet a high standard of quality and consistency. Certified Wild American Shrimp receive special labeling. Participation in the certification program is available to harvesters, processors, distributors, retailers, grocers and restaurateurs.

Another American fishery has received international recognition. Oregon's pink shrimp fishery has earned the world's first sustainable shrimp certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification program.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which runs the world’s leading independent certification program for sustainable fisheries, and independent certifier TAVEL Certification Inc., awarded Oregon pink shrimp its certification on December 6, 2007. The action distinguishes Oregon’s pink shrimp trawl fishery as a sustainable and well-managed fishery. The Marine Stewardship Council certification also allows Oregon pink shrimp to be sold using the coveted blue MSC eco-label indicating a sustainable fishery.

The Marine Stewardship Council is an organization that works to improve the health of the world’s oceans and to help create a sustainable global seafood market. MSC pursues its mission by certifying fisheries that meet its sustainable standards and developing market demand for certified seafood. The MSC model is based on consumers rewarding sustainable fisheries by choosing seafood that originates from certified sustainable fisheries.

Pink shrimp, also known as bay or salad shrimp are small (100-140 whole per lb). They are harvested using advanced trawl methods. Pink MSC certified shrimp are delivered to shore for cooking, peeling and freezing, resulting in an extremely fresh product of excellent quality.

The variety of high quality, healthy and sustainable American shrimp makes them an excellent choice for seafood lovers.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

The Charm Of Italian Seafood

When it comes to Italians and the seafood they select at the market, the most important aspect of the fish they are choosing is freshness. If the fish is not fresh, it will be bypassed very quickly. This is because Italians have been taught at a very early age how to pick the right fish from the marketplace, and this experience has followed them to adulthood and their own kitchen. Seafood is bountiful off the coasts of Italy, as there is ocean surround this island all the way around. Off the Atlantic side of Italy, you can find many forms of fish such as Tuna, and sea bass. Off of the Mediterranean side of Italy, there are many forms of crustaceans to choose from like crab, and the colossal prawns. Whichever form of sea fare you choose to go with, you can be sure that it will be fresh and delicious.

A Fine Fish Dish This Is

Regardless of what type of fish you plan on using, there is a great recipe to compliment it. When you are looking for the right fish for your meal, you are going to want to shop for it fresh if you have no intention of fishing for it yourself. Will want to use the right fish for the job, and if you want the recipe to turn out as planned you will ensure that you have the best at hand. Most if not all people in Italy choose to go to the market daily for their meats and fish, this will ensure that they are getting the freshest and best meat their money can buy. The better the cut or fillet, the better the dish will come out plain and simple.

Vast Choices Coast To Coast

One of the truly great things about life in Italy is the vast choice for seafood from coast to coast. There seems to be a limitless variety of fish and hard-shelled crustaceans available to be plucked from the sea, regardless of what side of the country you live on. With the swelling selection and the fantastic recipes that can transform your choice into works of culinary delight, Italy is a hotspot for seafood lovers all over the world. It is believed that it was the Greeks Italy's close neighbor that introduced the Italians to the great opportunities that seafood has to offer in regards to cooking. Seafood was cheap because everyone could harvest his or her own meals right from the oceans.

Mixing With Traditional Meals

What is truly wonderful about seafood in Italy is that it is mixed with traditional meals from past generations to form a wonderful dish all on its own. The introduction to shrimp to pastas with creamy white sauces has shown the world just how ingenious and creative the Italians are when it comes to cooking. They develop a great dish, and we basically reap the benefits from it when we dine Italian today.



Anna Fiori writes food related articles for the Italian Traditional Food website at www.italiantraditionalfood.com

Friday, January 30, 2009

In Search of the Oregon Coast Dungeness Crab

Catching Dungeness on the Oregon Coast is a year-round sport in the estuaries, coastal rivers and tidal bays. In theDungeness Crab on the Oregon Coast ocean, crab season is closed from August 15th through November 30th. The best weather to go in is mild to sunny weather. Sustained rains bring fresh water. They are salt-water creatures and heavy rains force them out to sea because of the sudden lack of salt water.

To stay on the right side of the law, you need to get yourself a license if you are 14 and over. The licenses are not that expensive (call the local chamber of commerce for prices) and they are available for three day or year long. This is for both in-state and out-of-state residents.

Legally, you can only keep the males. The females must be let go. You can determine a male from a female by checking their underside. Males have thin tail-like piece while the females have a round, wide piece. It's pretty easy to tell them apart once you see them both. The measurement of the crab will also determine a keeper. As long as the male crab measures five and three forths inches across the back of the shell, not including the points, consider him dinner!

Now, the adventure begins! Crabs are usually caught by using crab rings or crab pots. You can have up to three of these devices per person. Lower the baited (use chicken, fish, turkey, etc) rings or pots into the water, wait about 5 - 7 minutes, pull them up and see what you have. If you come up empty handed, move them to a different spot and try again. The ideal spots are ones with very little current. You can leave the crab pots in the water for a bit longer than the rings. The local bait shops in town will be able to hook you up with the gear you need. Once caught, they need to be cooked as soon as possible, preferably within the hour. The catch limit is 12 per day.

Once you taste a juicy, Dungeness crab, you will think you have died and went to heaven!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Blue Crabs Get No Respect

Thank goodness for the lowly blue crab.

What would our epicurean lives be without this deliciously savory crustacean. Yet often they do not get the respect they deserve.

These small bluish crustaceans are harvested from the mid Atlantic region crab fishery in Chesapeake Bay to Florida and along the Gulf states as far west as Texas. In its scientific name, calli is Greek for "beautiful", nectes for "swimmer", and sapidus is Latin for "savory".

Most crabs, except the luxurious King Crab, live out their meek and humble lives in the shadow of the lobster, the king of seafood. Yet for those in the know, that is ok because that just means more for us, right? Seriously, where would 'imperial' be without blue crab meat and delicious 'Maryland Style' be without tender and tasty blue crabs? Ah yes, many nights spent in bittersweet joy, after having your fill at the dinner table with those lowly crustaceans. Slurping, picking and dipping those juicy morsels through butter, old bay, or whatever seasonings you prefer, all the while feeling so sorry for those pitiful crabs that get no respect.

Let's pick on the blue crab some more shall we? All puns intended and accepted.

Some will say that they hate to pick out the meat because it is so much work for very little crab meat. Well in a way their complaint is justified. Typically the blue crab will yield only 10% to 15% of it's body weight in crab meat. The crabs grow by molting or shedding their shell and growing back a larger one. Just prior to molting, the crab will be encased in both the soft, new shell which is forming underneath the hard old shell. The formation of a new shell is evident along the margins of the swimming paddles of a crab. The crab is referred to as a "peeler" or "shedder". Immediately after the molt, the crab's new shell is soft, pliable and easily stretched. At this time the crab would be referred to as a " soft shelled crab". Many crab lovers will only eat a soft shell, which is simply a delightful dish when lightly tossed in flour and pan fried.

Types of Crabmeat:

• Lump is from the largest pieces of meat from the body, adjacent to the backfin and is the most expensive form of crabmeat.

• Backfin is the white body meat including lump and large flakes and is used for crab cakes and crab imperial.

• Special are flakes of white body meat other than lump and is used for crab cakes, soups, dips and casseroles.

• Claw meat is brownish meat from the claws and is best for dips and soups.

Some more Blue Crab facts:

• Callinectes sapidus means "Beautiful swimmer that is savory".
• Crabs reach maturity in 12 to 18 months.
• Few crabs live longer than 3 years.
• The largest crab recorded from Maryland was a male measuring 9 inches; however bigger crabs (10-11 inches) have been captured.
• The annual harvest of hard crabs from Chesapeake Bay accounts for over 50% of total U.S. landings.
• Cannibalism of young blue crabs by larger crabs is common and may regulate population abundance.
• A spring-spawned crab can reach a size of 2ฝ inches by their first winter.

Serve and enjoy blue crabs at your next party or cook-out and guarantee yourself the adoration of an appreciative group of seafood lovers. Finally, don't feel sorry for the blue crab, they get more respect than they know.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Crab Comforts

Crabs are among the most succulent and delicious seafood eaten today. Whole crabs, crab legs, crab cakes, alaskan crabs, stone crabs, and even other tiny crabs are served across the nation. Some like it with sauce, others are contented to steam it and pick the meat out. More adventurous people would include crabs in soups, salads, and even sandwiches. Crab cakes and crab fritters are also popular choices. Crabs are even included in pasta sauces and omelettes.

But before making crab dishes it is necessary to get really good crabs and crab meat. It doesn't matter if you're going to prepare whole crabs, crab legs, crab cakes, alaskan crabs, stone crabs, or some tiny crab, they key here is freshness. It is better and advised that you get live crabs. Pick crabs that are lively or aggressive. Sick or dead crabs would only ruin your dish and could even be a cause of sickness. Also, crabs are sold by bushels. Insists to inspect or choose your own crabs before putting them in bushels. To ensure freshness, befriend your fish person and ask them to keep you informed when the next batch of crabs would be in. Fresh crabs taste juicier and more succulent than stale crabs.

Now that you have your crabs, it is important to remember some guidelines in preparing them. You would not want to waste quality crabs by careless cooking, would you? It doesn't matter if you want to cook crabs, crab legs, crab cakes, alaskan crabs, stone crabs, or some tiny crab dish, cook your crabs as soon as you got them. I assure you they'll taste better than if cooked on a later time. For steaming, get a wide rack and steaming pot so you can steam the all crabs at once. This way, crabs are steamed evenly and you can prevent earlier steamed crabs from cooling. Make sure that your rack has enough height for your crabs to stay well above the steaming liquid, too short racks will give you boiled crabs instead of steamed. Another trick is to add beer to your boiling liquid, it will give your crabs outstanding flavor. Crab cakes are trickier. It is important to control your seasonings so as not to overpower the subtle flavor of the crab. Avoid over-frying or your crab cake will dry out. The color of stone crab claws and most crabs will change to a bright shade of orange when cooked. Do not overcook your crabs, as soon as they signal you with their color change, remove them from direct heat. When your crabs are cooked, keep your sauces or condiments to a minimum, after all, it is the crabs that should be the star of your meal. Call your friends and family to share your crab feast. But on the other hand, they'll taste so good you might want to enjoy them by yourself.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Alaskan Seafood For The Soul

Want Seafood? Go Alaskan!

A few miles north of mainland America is Alaska, the lone state, and the proud producer of some of the world’s finest seafood. The pristine waters of Alaska are home to five different varieties of Salmon, four different varieties of Whitefish, and a myriad of jumbo-sized shellfish.

Alaska offers clean, untainted waters where its seafood can grow and develop in the wild. There is no fish farming here, only the generous bounty of the ocean. Alask...


Keywords:



Article Body:
Want Seafood? Go Alaskan!

A few miles north of mainland America is Alaska, the lone state, and the proud producer of some of the world’s finest seafood. The pristine waters of Alaska are home to five different varieties of Salmon, four different varieties of Whitefish, and a myriad of jumbo-sized shellfish.

Alaska offers clean, untainted waters where its seafood can grow and develop in the wild. There is no fish farming here, only the generous bounty of the ocean. Alaska is the only state which prides itself on its fishing industry, and you can feel a bit better knowing that Alaskan fisheries only produce what is sustainable by the ecosystem- the state works hard to ensure that no over fishing takes place and that the fish populations remain at healthy and sustainable levels.

There are few regions in the world which offer a comparable variety to Alaska. This is hardly surprising, as Alaska is home to over three million lakes, three thousand rivers, and over thirty-four thousand miles of coastline. Along with being a popular tourist destination, Alaskan habitat is largely unspoiled, ensuring that the stock of fish is constantly healthy and mature.

Taste, Texture, and Health

Alaskan Salmon is of the same significance as Alberta Beef- seafood lovers everywhere know the difference between farmed Salmon and a fresh, Alaskan Salmon. The difference comes as more than just taste (though the difference is quite significant), but also in color and texture. Alaskan Salmon has a much deeper color, and is quite tender. Just as a steak lover will notice the difference between AAA, prime-cut beef and poor quality beef, a Salmon lover will immediately see, feel, and taste the difference.

But Alaskan seafood is about much more than simply tasking great. Your body needs certain essential acids, proteins, and fats in order to stay healthy- all of these are joyously provided by Alaskan seafood, which is low in saturated and trans fats, high in lean proteins and amino acids, and full of vitamins and nutrients.

In fact, many experts cite seafood as one of the most important sources of protein and amino acids, and recommend between six and ten servings of seafood per week.

Variety

Having trouble thinking of ways to incorporate seafood into your diet? Try some extra-large Alaskan Scallops, or perhaps some Alaskan Spot Prawns. Both are delicious, easy to prepare, and are high in iron and lean protein. Reducing the amount of red meat that you eat and replacing it with fresh Alaskan Seafood is a great way to increase your consumption of amino acids and essential fatty acids while reducing your cholesterol at the same time.

Alaskan Seafood – Good for the body, Great for the soul.