Fish out of Water

The fish festival was the main event of the day today for us. There was a slightly worrying moment when it turned out that no-one had measured the trawler that was supposed to be landing and it didn't fit under the Millenium Bridge. But they landed the catch downstream and it was rushed up by van to be sold on the Quayside. The prices were unbelievable, we bought 8 langoustine, 2 mackerel, 2 haddock and a fairly sizey monkfish all for £11. There were wild sea salmon but they were £20 a fish (you could only by whole fish) and we didn't think we wanted that much salmon.

Before the fish festival on the Quayside was the Famous Street-food Festival where sampled a few delights before heading uptown to the Food Heroes Tasting Market where there was more food to taste but at least this time some of it was ingredients rather than prepared food. We got a piece of Roe deer fillet, some mixed oyster mushrooms and a salad for our dinner tonight but also had to try the wagyu-burgers. They were very nice but served in the worst bun ever, a terrible faux-pas.

After buying the fish at 4 we headed back, mainly to sort the fish out but partly because it had been dreichy all day but was starting to get worse and a nice night in was required. Monkfish and a mackerel were filleted and beheaded (the monkfish has very sharp little teeth, even in it's gullet it seems) and langoustines were also beheaded with all the heads and spare bits going in a pan to make stock for the Monkfish, Langoustine and Chorizo soup I was going to make (for tomorrow, it's better the next day). Mackerel fillet was made into a sashimi starter, the freshest I have ever eaten it must be said and then we had the venison with mixed oyster mushrooms and potatoes.

After dinner we dozed our way to sleep watching tat on the TV, in preparation for tomorrow and the possibility of a wine festival with over 80 wines to look forward too...