Most of you probably don’t know that the main ingredient in a fish fry is a fish. I mean you know it on an intellectual level, but how many of you have started with a whole cod and turned it into a fish fry? Anyway, we’re members of Cape Ann Fresh Catch, which is a community supported fishery. The basic idea is that consumers (of fish) pay a group of fishermen up front for the season, then the fishermen deliver fish every week to the members. Knowing that their catch is already sold, they don’t have to chase high market value fish that may be in dangerous waters or overfished. They can fish in a safe and sustainable manner and have a more consistent livelihood. For the members, it means knowing where dinner came from and supporting a local industry that faces tough competition. Go ask at your local supermarket where the fish comes from. You’d be surprised.

This is week two of the program and again we have a big, delicious looking cod. I have honed my Japanese Deba knife to an edge so sharp it could finish a New York Times Saturday crossword puzzle all by itself. I am ready to filet.

Our cod is cold and slimy. Like a dead fish. Expertly, with swift and accurate strokes I slice two filets off the sides. It only takes about 20 minutes. Long enough for the Cruise Director to become infatuated with the idea of eating the eyes and for her to start googling (googley eyes?) recipes for cod eyes.

While I am flouring the fish and sprinkling it with salt and pepper, the Editor at Large is mixing a Bisquick batter and deep frying sweet potatoes in our 1920s Wagner Chicken Fryer. I quickly whip up a cold pasta salad with fresh scallions, Vidalia onion and spinach, then batter the fish and toss it in boiling oil.

The end result tasted, well, just like fish fry. I think we did pretty well. It was flaky and light, not overly greasy. We all ate our fill, the Cruise Director ate the fried eyes after making a smily face on her plate using fish eyes and potato parts, and there was still fish left over when we were done. Next time I’ll remember to buy some beer.

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