2011 is Here!!

Hello 2011! We are already into our second week of 2011. We have many new things planned for this year. Farmers markets, festivals, caterings, you name it! If you have any ideas for us, please send them our way. We look forward to serving you in this wonderful new year.

Sexy Fish - Red Drum

Our Sexy Fish this week is the Red Drum. Red drum is the accepted common name for this species by the American Fisheries Society, but they are also called channel bass, spottail bass and redfish. Drum aged 1 to 4 years are called puppy drum. Red drum are related to black drum, spotted seatrout, weakfish, sea mullets, croaker and spot, most of which also make drum sounds. Fisheries scientists refer to the species as Sciaenops ocellatus; Sciaenops is Greek for perch-like marine fish and ocellatus is Latin for eye-like colored spot. The Latin term refers to the black spot (usually one, but sometimes two or more) on either side near the base of the tail. Scientists believe that the spots may fake predators into attacking the red drum toward their tails instead of near their eyes, allowing the drum to escape.

Baked Red Drum

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

1 1/2 to 2 pounds fresh fillets
dash of pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground sweet paprika
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons finely chopped onion
1/4 cup melted butter

Cook the fish

Place fish in a lightly buttered shallow baking dish, skin side down. In a cup, combine remaining ingredients. Pour over redfish fillets and bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes. The baked redfish should flake easily with a fork when done.