Chad April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 Some of you may know that, for about the last six months, I have been looking for a source of Caribbean-caught lionfish. Well, yesterday I finally found one and was able to hash through some details! In celebration and support of the eradication of this invasive species (and to get out from behind our computers for a while), I propose that we have a fish fry and eat us some lionfish!!! Although I have not tried it, everywhere that I have seen says it is a "firm and mild white fish" and that it is very good. That ought to make it about perfect for frying up! We would have to order at least 50 pounds of whole fish, which, in my fish experience, means about 20ish pounds of fillets ready for frying. OK, to make this happen, we need the following things: 1) A location such as someone's garage or back-yard where we can set up a frying station and have around 20 people (tank tour at the same time, anyone?). Volunteers? 2) A date, as a starting point, how about one of the four weekends between 4/23 and 5/15 (chosen arbitrarily, but best weather?). Thoughts? 3) At least 20 interested folks. I don't have the shipping nailed down yet but I expect total cost to be $25-50 per person (shipping will depend on the date we choose and the specific location the fisherman is getting the lions from). Once we have enough people commit, a date, and a location, I will collect money and order the fish. 4) 2-3 fryers borrowed for the cause. 5) A few volunteers to filet 50 pounds of fish. Let's support the cause, have a get together, a tank tour, and eat some lionfish!! Who is in?
Chad April 1, 2011 Author April 1, 2011 By the way, I just realized it is 4/1. This is NOT an April fool's joke!!
roni April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 if my wife and i are in town, we'd be down. maybe we can figure out a tentative date and then move from there?
BowieReefer84 April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 (edited) How dangerous is it to eat these fish? Being that they are venomous. Not trying to put down the event, as I think this is a really cool idea. Edited April 1, 2011 by BowieReefer84
Chad April 1, 2011 Author April 1, 2011 (edited) Their spine are venomous, but the fish are not poisonous, meaning they are safe to eat once the spines are cut off and cooked. Here are a couple of links http://www.chow.com/...inable-seafood/ http://www.ambergris...0%99em%E2%80%9D Edited April 1, 2011 by Chad
jason the filter freak April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 I miss my liofish very much, and don't like the taste of fish in general, but this is an awesome idea, and I will eat anything deep fried with remoulade sauce
Jan April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 They are not dangerous to eat if prepared correctly. The spines are the dangerous part.
extreme_tooth_decay April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 I would be in. I could provide a big deep fryer I use for turkeys if that would be useful. I think we could do it with a smaller number of people than 20 if necessary. I, for instance, would be willing to just buy and freeze some extra and eat it later if necessary.
Chad April 1, 2011 Author April 1, 2011 ^haha, that picture makes me laugh every time I see it! The fish will come gutted, I guess the collectors keep them for themselves I guess they are that good!!
Chad April 1, 2011 Author April 1, 2011 I would be in. I could provide a big deep fryer I use for turkeys if that would be useful. I think we could do it with a smaller number of people than 20 if necessary. I, for instance, would be willing to just buy and freeze some extra and eat it later if necessary. I was thinking I would be ok buying extra and freezing it as well. Elsa and I eat a lot of fish, I am sure extra would not go to waste. How is temperature control on the turkey fryer? I have heard that it varies significantly. IME, frying fish works best at a pretty specific temperature range. If it is good, I think that would be good. If not, I think we should hold out for some with good temperature control. For those of you who are interested, what do you think about the dates? Good, bad? I threw it out there as a starting point, but it was arbitrary.
treesprite April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 Oh shoot, I thought when I clicked on the subject that someone had lionfish babies in their tank... I am so disappointed :(
zygote2k April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 How much does the fish actually cost? $25-50 pp seems quite steep for a fish. For that price I'd rather do Kobe beef.
Brian Ward April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 Love it. Can we also do Rocky Mountain Lionfish oysters? Disgusting.
Brian Ward April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 I was thinking I would be ok buying extra and freezing it as well. Elsa and I eat a lot of fish, I am sure extra would not go to waste. How is temperature control on the turkey fryer? I have heard that it varies significantly. IME, frying fish works best at a pretty specific temperature range. If it is good, I think that would be good. If not, I think we should hold out for some with good temperature control. For those of you who are interested, what do you think about the dates? Good, bad? I threw it out there as a starting point, but it was arbitrary. My understanding is that the good ones hold temp pretty well (that's what Alton Brown tells me anyway). You have to attach a candy thermometer to the side and be sure not to add too much at once. But having a large volume of oil and doing very small batches of fish should minimize the variability of the temperature and provide a good fry.
Origami April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 Oh shoot, I thought when I clicked on the subject that someone had lionfish babies in their tank... I am so disappointed :(
Chad April 1, 2011 Author April 1, 2011 ^exactly what I was thinking, Brian. Rob, the fish is $9.50 per pound + shipping. There is a 50# minimum so that is $475. Shipping will vary and I won't be able to get a solid estimate on it until we have a date set (because the date may change where, specifically, the fish will come from), but I guess it based on a handful of locations and searches to be between $150-350. Adding this up and dividing by 20 (since I guess 50 pounds of fish will result in 20 pounds of usable filets) is 41.25. So $25-50 bounds it under my best guess. How do you know lionfish isn't better than kobe beef?
Chad April 1, 2011 Author April 1, 2011 Oh shoot, I thought when I clicked on the subject that someone had lionfish babies in their tank... I am so disappointed :( I am really slow today... it took me reading this about 6 times to figure it out!
extreme_tooth_decay April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 How is temperature control on the turkey fryer? I have heard that it varies significantly. IME, frying fish works best at a pretty specific temperature range. If it is good, I think that would be good. If not, I think we should hold out for some with good temperature control. Mine is great. I usually can keep it dead on 350 the entire time the turkey is frying. As long as my thermometer is working properly... Fish would be easier than turkeys since the temp will change less for some fish than a 14 pound turkey out of the fridge.
extreme_tooth_decay April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 I have some friends who would be interested. I am good for 5 people worth.
Chad April 1, 2011 Author April 1, 2011 (edited) I think that is 10. Me +1 Roni and Wife Brandon Tim +4 Jan? Doug? Brian? Anyone want to volunteer a location? What do y'all think about the date range (or a specific date)? Frier - Tim (I think one turkey-sized frier will do it, what do you think?) Edited April 1, 2011 by Chad
Jan April 1, 2011 April 1, 2011 (edited) I've got a big enough yard/house or we can use one of the beaches at the lake here. there's a cost for that but it has a stage, electricity, picnic table & benches, gazebo and BBQ grills. You can set up a fryer there. No tanks though. Edited April 1, 2011 by Jan
roni April 2, 2011 April 2, 2011 i just checked the dates you listed and i've got work 3 weekends and friends coming in town the other :( if we do another date after that i'm down.
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