DECEMBER 19, 2020

 HELLO EVERYONE!! MY FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR IS COMING!! (more on that later)

I know this is a little off cycle but for the next two weeks we will be sending out an order form Monday for pick up Tuesday because of the way the holidays fall. So, please look out for the order forms on Monday with pick ups on Tuesday at the normal times and places.

As I stated last week, the offerings will be a touch abbreviated. Christmas week is not a big week for boats to go out due to the fact that most suppliers will be closed Friday through the weekend and do not want to have much left over. Secondly, this year, because the nor'easter came through when it did, boats that came in will no mostly stay in. 

I hope everyone is having fun with the Spanish mackerel and lots of people seem to be making paella. Muy bueno!!

This week, we will be receiving fish from our friends out west. Alaskan sablefish also known on famous menus around the world as Black Cod. It is not a cod, in fact, but this is the handle that made it more appetizing on menus. So there you have it. It is a wonderful fish that is most commonly prepared with a miso glaze. Here is a great recipe you can also find on the website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntcgdSL1xVE&list=LL&index=120

We have more mussels coming in again by popular demand. Oysters will be Beausoleils from PEI. We will have fish stock, parsley butter and will be adding crab stock to the list. Actually, we will keep the shrimp stock on there again because some people decided to skip ordering this past week in order to order this week and they asked us and we are nice.

The crab stock is a wonderful stock to use if you planned on making crab gravy for Christmas. The biggest pain in the ass about that recipe is getting the live blue crabs, cleaning them, making the stock and picking the meat out. Let's be honest. It sucks. With this stock, you can bypass all of that because Oyster House did all the heavy lifting. Then, you can make your family recipe and simply add crabmeat at the end and look like a superstar. Voila!! or you can make a nice crab bisque. Just saying. Here is a good recipe but sub crab stock for the lobster stock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAsLJgR-vME

The week of New Years, we will be focusing on things lobster. Lobster tails, lobster meat and lobster stock. So stay tuned for that.

Now, as I said at the top, my favorite day of the year is coming. And it's not Christmas or new years. It's December 26nd. Yes, December 26. You see, I am a person that loves the sun. I don't care how cold it gets as long as it is sunny. I don't care how hard it rains as long as it is sunny. Ok, that last one is a little tricky, I confess. But why December 26nd, you ask? Because, throughout this week, the daytimes are exactly 7 hours and 20 minutes long. The shortest of the year. But on December 26th, the daytime is 7 hours and 21 minutes LONG. And there you have it. We gain a minute. THE DAYS BEGIN TO GET LONGER AGAIN!!! We start to move in the right direction. Life is sleeping right now but we are moving toward re-awakening. 

Which brings me to a point of reflection on how meaningful that is in this year to remember. It's been so hard on all of us, no exception. So many things have changed for so many of us in so many common ways that I won't bore you with the list. We know. 

Yet, what we have witnessed this year from bringing our truck to the neighborhood every week has been nothing short of inspiring. People picking up seafood for those who couldn't. People sharing a smile with us even on shitty weather days. People driving from further away to pick up for their neighbors. People sharing their food with firends. People cooking for their families. Kids learning to like to eat seafood. You sharing your lives with us through the food that you make and your excitement about it. Just amazing.

Although this has been a year of suffering, may the coming year be one of healing. A vaccine will be available, yes, but it will be our mental health that will need healing too. it will be the attention that we direct to those who need it and the patience we have with those that can't cope well and the courage to admit that we need help too. Sometimes, the littlest thing can mean so much. We know because it has happened to us on certain days that one stranger's smile has turned our spirits around toward a better mood and in turn that would affect those around us too. It's not necessarily about doing the big things. It is about doing the NICE things. The GOOD things. The COMPASSIONATE things. 

And just as my man here says, we can be heroes. YOU have been our heroes. Keep it up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXgkuM2NhYI&list=LL&index=6

Look out for the order form on Monday at 11am.

Peace

Robert Amar

Small World Seafood

Owner