O-chugen. Summer Gift.

(Beef from Gifu. ‘Hidagyuu’ Sirloin. Rank #5. High quality beef!!)

Probably in the last twenty years or so, not so many people send summer gifts to people anymore. Obviously the downturn in the economy has changed how people spend their money. Not on other people.

I remember during one of the first years while being here in Japan I was helping this older lady with her English. Her living room was filled with boxes and boxes of summer gifts from friends, family and work associates. I went to her place about once a week and saw some really interesting, amazing cultural things.

Back to the ochugen.. she had so much stuff from ochugen that much of it went to waste, or was put into storage, given away, or just spoiled and thrown away. Luckily, I was on the receiving end of quite a bit of food and snacks! Lucky me!  That was a long time ago…

There are several ways now to order the summer gifts now, but before you mostly went to the department store or shop and ordered from the special desk they have set up for the summer gifts. Often they have catalogs, and price ranges of gifts (3,000 – 5,000yen.. etc.), or by category — you can send meat products, fish or seafood, fruit, drinks (coffee, beer, tea, juice), towels, laundry detergent, cooking oil, noodles, …just about anything really.

Tradition has it that you send people who take care of you or are in care of; teachers, doctors, co-workers or even just help out and such, receive gifts like this.

250 grams of the famous Matzuzaka-gyu for sukiyaki.. 10,500yen!  (from Mie-ken, a shop called Sugimoto)

A very out of focus picture of some of the desserts that can be sent. (sorry!)

Many of the meat products which you can send shown.

Fish products. Salmon, cod roe, spiced cod roe, fresh crab, boiled crab, fugu, sushi, sashimi, maguro, uni …all sorts of stuff.Fruits. Japanese cherries, melon, peaches, etc.

Associated Seafoods Ltd (ASL) has been short-listed for an illustrious Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Award in recognition of its soaring export sales of quality Scottish smoked salmon and shellfish.

Dan Gorsky, McDonald’s senior vice-president of US supply chain and sustainability, said: “We’re extremely proud of the fact that this decision ensures our customers will continue to enjoy the same great taste and high quality of our fish with the additional assurance that the fish they are buying can be traced back to a fishery that meets MSC’s strict sustainability standard.”

McDonald’s, which uses MSC certified wild-caught Alaska Pollock for its Filet-O-Fish sandwich, will begin displaying the MSC ecolabel on product packaging, in-restaurant communications and external marketing beginning in February 2013 – coinciding with the launch of Fish McBites, McDonald’s newest fish menu item, which also uses wild-caught, MSC-certified Alaska Pollock.

MSC certification indicates that more than 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants across the US have met the MSC Chain of Custody standard for traceability, which is the ability to track the fish all the way back through the supply chain to the fishery.

“McDonald’s decision to display the MSC ecolabel on its seafood products gives consumers a way to contribute to the conservation of the world’s biodiversity,” said Bill Fox, vice president and managing director of fisheries at World Wildlife Fund. “It also demonstrates McDonald’s leadership in feeding a growing population while helping to maintain healthy fisheries.”

In 2011, McDonald’s introduced the same MSC certification for all its European restaurants. McDonald’s USA also worked with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and Conservation International for more than ten years to support sustainable fishing practices.

Jim Cannon, chief executive officer for the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, said: “McDonald’s understood the importance of sustainable seafood ahead of others in the business and adopted a visionary approach of supporting the improvement of fisheries rather than just switching to other sources. Sustainable Fisheries Partnership has been proud to work with McDonalds for many years and has seen huge improvements in the quality of fisheries management as a result of our joint efforts. In 2002, there were only 7 MSC certified whitefish stocks worldwide. Today there are 22 stocks with MSC certified fisheries, with more under full assessment and hoping for certification soon.”

Source: fishnewseu.com

Marine Harvest made an offer of NOK 11.50 (USD 2.05, EUR 1.56) per share to two investment companies owned by Morpol CEO Jerzy Malek — Friendmall and Bazmonta — and submitted the same offer for the remaining shares.

In addition, Marine Harvest has entered into agreements to purchase the technical services entity Euro-Industry for EUR 10 million (USD 13 million), 78.3 percent of the shares in the Polish sales company Epigon based on a 100 percent valuation of EUR 4.2 million (USD 5.5 million) and 100 percent of the shares in the processing company MK Delikatesy for EUR 2.5 million (USD 3.3 million).

Marine Harvest said it believes the transactions will streamline Morpol’s assets further, and hence be positive for its long term value creation.

“Morpol’s activities and large range of high quality products fit very well with Marine Harvest’s current processing business as well as our downstream strategy. Morpol has its main market in Germany, but sells into a total of 39 countries. Marine Harvest has very limited sales of smoked products in the German market today. A future integration with Morpol will hence offer complementary benefits to today’s Marine Harvest,” said Alf-Helge Aarskog, Marine Harvest CEO. “Morpol will give our innovation and product development a strong boost. A combined Morpol and Marine Harvest can develop even more innovative and delicious seafood products for the consumer market.”

Source: seafoodsource.com

Kefir

Osetra Caviar

New Caviar Just Arrived

Bulgarian Feta

Hearing 1

Aunt D cooking some of that goooood fish.....

Aunt D’s Fish Market, LLC.dba Aunt D’s is a business involved in the retail sales of fresh raw fish in Southern Kentucky.  This is a new fresh fish market that will open with one storefront.  The market is dedicated to the loving memory of Kelner D. Jackson, otherwise known to family and friends as “Aunt D”.  She served the community as a nurse at Methodist Hospital, Maternity Department for 44 years.  She developed relationships with many of the residents from generation to generation.  The communities’ outpouring of love and admiration for Aunt D was expressed at her memorial services.  Her home church, First Missionary Baptist, had to place additional speakers and chairs outside the church building to accommodate the overflow of people attending, she was revered. The Jackson Family have been pillars of the community for over 60 years. 

The objective of the business is to offer the community fresh raw fish of their likings for barbecue, grilling, oven and stove top cooking, as well as the option of having the fish cooked and served with two side orders, as a lunch or dinner.  This option known as “you buy, we fry.”  The market will be a friendly and family oriented setting; embracing an environment that feels like Aunt D’s kitchen.  She was renowned for cooking the “best fried fish in town”.  Our services and products includes reaching out to churches, hospitals, senior, teen and recreational centers for catering services.  This business is strictly a fresh fish market with options, it is not a restaurant.  In this region of the country, the residents are large consumers of non-shell fish.  They are enthusiastic fish consumers with a strong appetite for it.  Eating fish is a part of the southern culture and a way of life.

Our focus will be on selling the following types of non-shell fish by the pound: Buffalo, Catfish & Nuggets, Cod, Halibut, Tilapia, Salmon, Sea Bass, Scallops, Snapper, Sole, Seafood Sausage, Whiting with Shrimp (prawns and small) being the shell fish exception.  We will also sell our “secret fish batter blend” used for the preparing and seasoning the fish, when we cook the it, as well as our specialty homemade cakes and pies made by the extended Jackson family.  The following is a brief listing of the family specialty homemade cake/pie to be sold; Chestnut and Apple pies, 7-up cake along with our version of Red Velvet Cake which we will call ….Velvet Cake (shhh, it’s a secret).  We will also sell caps and tee shirts with Aunt D’s  name and picture on them.

 Aunt D’s believes that offering specialty items such as our eatable treats along with a large variety and selection of non-shell fish, coupled with a warm personal and friendly family environment will create a clear distinction and separation from the local supermarkets.  We understand and will satisfy all of the needs of our friends in the community for fish.  By purchasing their fresh fish from our market, the community will satisfy the following objectives.  The desire for freshly caught, not frozen.  Purchase a good tasting fish due to freshness, and they will have a array of fish with a larger selection for their fish needs.  This will bring them total satisfaction with their purchases and experience with the market; leaving them with a desire to visit and come back for more.  Additionally, the residents will no longer have to wait for warm weather or a street vendor for their fish.  They can buy fresh fish daily.

There are combined contributing factors that promote strong confidence in the development of this enterprise, this is why this market will be successful.  The County residents have expressed their 100% support behind this venture.  The need for this fish market and how much it would fulfill the needs of the community. Their desire to bring new thriving businesses into their community that offer employment opportunities would be addressed.  And, the profound admiration they have expressed towards  Aunt D and the Jackson Family over the many years.  These factors are powerful and uniting.  These are strong indicators of the success of the market and are the driving force behind Aunt D’s Fish Market.

MISSION:  Aunt D’s  is committed to becoming a unique community brand while providing the best quality and product, the largest variety and selection of fresh fish to the community; our brand being recognized as “the best fresh fish market in town”. 

VISION:  To provide a quality product at an attractive price.  By stressing a personalized approach to all aspects of the business and high standards in every phase of service.  We will build our credibility and presences in the community; while maintaining our uncompromising principals as we grow and evolve to become known as “the best fresh fish market in town”.

We welcome your comments and support.We are very excited about what we are doing and our involvement in the community. 

Thank You All & May God Bless,

Aunt D’s Fish Market

Deputy Mayor, Pablo E. Nohay stopped short of identifying the private investor, pending the preparation and completion of the paperwork for the huge business venture.

Mr Nohay said the company will put up a five-storey building where the investor would hold office for its operation, among others.

He added: “This is an indication about investors’ renewed confidence in our town, impressed perhaps by its strategic location, credible and effective leadership under Mayor (Charlie) Pizarro and we are really friendly to all legitimate investors who want to pour in their investments here.”

Under the initial plan, Mr Nohay said that the company will export its fish products to various neighbouring countries, saying this will certainly generate not only income for the town but also thousands of new employment.

In addition, Mayor Pizarro said the management of Jatropha is also planning to invest more as part of its expansion programme after its initial planting of the Jatropha for biodiesel has become successful in Barangay Liyan, this town, reports Manila Bulletin.

In Barangay Alauli, village chief, Edgardo Lulu, said that aside from the existing companies in his barangay, a number of private investors had also expressed keen interest in putting up their investments in his barangay “due to the prevailing peace and order, its strategic location” and is the center going to Mariveles where the Freeport Area of Bataan will soon be set up.

TheFishSite News Desk

‘Seasoned’ (geddit) Audiofile watchers know that the word Fishcake has several meanings.

One is of course a circular, breadcrumbed delicacy made of fish and mashed potato.

However, the second and more profound meaning of ‘fishcake’ is of course ‘an absurd and meaningless lyric of no merit whatsoever.’

Etymologists seeking the origin of this are advised to consult the bonus track list for a later CD version of Bauhaus’s album MASK, which was Bro Attwell’s listening choice for one of the earliest recorded Audiofile meetings.

In the song the esteemed giants of gothic rock are heard to deliver the following piece of poetry:

Take a fish
And a potato
Hold the fish
And the potato
In your hand
In your hand

Put the potato
In the fish
Make it digest it
Smash it up
Smash it up

Smash it up
Smash it up

This is how you make fishcakes
This is how one makes fishcakes
Smash it up
Poke it up

Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes

Put it down the fish
Put it down the fish
Throw it against the wall
Stamp on the fish

Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes

Throw it on the wall
Smash it on the wall
Throw it on the wall
Smash it on the wall

Fishcakes
Fishcakes.

Since that early meeting the word ‘fishcake’ or the phrase ‘a fishcake moment’ has come to mean a lyrical infelicity of the most profound sort and led to the official adoption of the word by the Audiofile membership.

Bro Turner has registered the word with http://www.adoptaword.com and the group, according to the certificate, must be congratulated on giving the word a happy home.

Interesting concept. Do you trust they will have a good line up? Past experience says yes. But availability of desired bands is always the wrench in the gears. I do not doubt that a huge amount of negotiating has been taking place for months, if not years, to achieve this line up, whatever it may be.

In the meantime, find a place to stay! Book it now, before the rush of wannabee-theres discover the line up and then want to come play. Chicago is a beautiful city, full of other century architectural masterpieces and proud of it. And the festival is right in the heart of downtown Chicago, with in/out privileges, so if the food and music is not your thing for a particular stretch, leave to explore the city and come back later. How can you lose with a deal like that?

Take the chance, buy the ticket, see you there. And remember, Intelligentsia coffee is headquartered in Chicago. Experience it on its home turf, blocks away from the venue. Or go see Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Or ride the L.

On completely other random news, has anyone else been hearing about the young man doing 50 jobs in 50 weeks in all 50 states of the United States? He’s on week 27 right now. I finally went looking on his website, and saw what he is up to and why. It is a little sad that he had no idea of the still-existing cultural differences within our country, but thrilling that he decided to embrace it as a source of exploration through travel, taking on jobs he feels are stereotypical for the state and just generally getting to know our country. I salute his adventurous spirit, especially since it grew out of his attempts to become employed. Way to turn adversity into opportunity.

And, for us pet owners, have we recently given any thought  to what it is that we are feeding them? Being a vegetarian with the teeth and digestion of an omnivore, I have heard the arguments for forcing my naturally carnivorous cat onto a vegetarian diet (you don’t hear any bias of my particular opinion in that sentence, do you?) but this article I ran across went a direction and investigated an area I had not heard before. An article about ingredients in pet food made me all the more concious of why it is I have chosen to be vegetarian, that individual choices can indeed make a difference. I choose to eat lower on the food chain to enable there to be more food choices available for others, believing that all on the planet can then eat. So now, with this information about fish products in pet food and its impact on the environment, what is the individual choice I can make for myself and my cat consistent with a commitment to the environment and eating lower on the food chain to enable others to eat? It makes the boutique pet stores that whip up individualized food blends less boutique-y expensive and more thoughtful and environmentally progressive than I had originally given them credit for.