For Cantonese the only seafood worth eating is fresh... very fresh.
In Hong Kong, people have a hefty appetite for seafood - consuming an average of nearly 50 kg (110 lbs) a year - and are willing to pay a premium for it. Thousands of tons of live seafood, most of it caught in the wild, are flown in from around the world. It's a half-billion dollar a year trade... for this one city.
The crabs, lobster, clams, scallops, oysters and other seafood is distributed to countless tanks in wet markets and restaurants throughout the Special Administrative Region. These are snapshots of a wet market I recently visited where customers choose their own live dinner for a nearby restaurant to cook and serve.
I "caught" these red fish in a tank. The perfectly prepared meal we had was to die for. But don't tell these fish that!
In Hong Kong, people have a hefty appetite for seafood - consuming an average of nearly 50 kg (110 lbs) a year - and are willing to pay a premium for it. Thousands of tons of live seafood, most of it caught in the wild, are flown in from around the world. It's a half-billion dollar a year trade... for this one city.
The crabs, lobster, clams, scallops, oysters and other seafood is distributed to countless tanks in wet markets and restaurants throughout the Special Administrative Region. These are snapshots of a wet market I recently visited where customers choose their own live dinner for a nearby restaurant to cook and serve.
Hong Kong, 2010
I "caught" these red fish in a tank. The perfectly prepared meal we had was to die for. But don't tell these fish that!
This is for Klaus and team's My World Tuesday - you'll find plenty of scenes from around the globe there! And there are more great takes on the theme RED at Mary's Ruby Tuesday.
Well, Francisca, you've done it again. Amazing colors and a fascinating topic -- fresh seafood!!
ReplyDeleteKay
Alberta, Canada
Super shots and wow I'm so hungry (dinner's in the oven!)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots! Sometimes I find such food just a little *too* fresh. I know, I wouldn't last long in the wild . . .
ReplyDeleteTerrific captures as always, Francisca! I love fresh seafood! Wonderful post for the day!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
aloha,
ReplyDeletethese are so exciting shots, i love wet markt scenes, that red fish looks like carp?
my tuesday tour of a hike to the lava on my sari blog.
So fascinating, Francesca! I'd love to see that in person.
ReplyDeleteThose are nice fresh goodies.
ReplyDeleteMy Ruby Tuesday
Great photos. I'm all for food being fresh but for some reason I prefer it more anonymous, stuff that I have not got acquainted with when it was still alive.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous images and food, but I prefer to ignore this part of the cooking process!
ReplyDeleteBeing a vegetarian this is the only type of meat that I eat but when i see this it makes me want to give up on that also!! :)) Great shots!
ReplyDeleteThe produce of the sea is phenomenal, I agree. I once had a piglet on my farm (I was about 10). I looked after it for quite a few months, knowing that it would be sold to another farmer when it was big enough. It was only a couple of years ago that I was told that we ate it for Christmas dinner. I am just a little less naive nowadays ... not by much though!!
ReplyDeletePoor red fishes, but sadly all part of the food chain.
ReplyDeleteI love sea food, but i have never caught them and had them thus. Must be a great experience.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots what a wonderful display of seafood, makes me hungry!
ReplyDeleteWhat a display! At least you won't be suspicious about just how fresh your 'fresh caught' really is!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun way to prepare a meal! I love the colors in your photo. And I'd probably be hungry, too, if I wasn't vegetarian ;D
ReplyDeletePS: You're right, there were more bridges than I realized!
I agree, don't tell the fish. I like them live, and I would gladly eat the cooked version.
ReplyDeleteso fresh and colorful fish..
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rachelcay.com/2010/09/ruby-tuesday.html
What a cool market! I've never seen anything like it.
ReplyDeletereally great looking wet market..i'd probably be really happy shopping around this place.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post.
ReplyDeleteYou wondered why a town would be named Concrete--well find out here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete,_Washington
MB
Great shots of the live fish market. After all there is nothing better than freshly 'caught' fish, is there?
ReplyDeleteI always feel like blessing the poor creature I send to the kitchen.
Great shots what a wonderful display of seafood, so fresh and colorful fish.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week,
Greetings, Bram
My Word Tuesday post
Seen on My World Tuesday
Amazing sight to see.
ReplyDeleteDenmark is a seafood nation, but the prices for just a fillet are horrible :(
ReplyDeleteFish markets.. I miss them. I what to be there.
ReplyDeleteMy Ruby Link for you
As a tropical fish hobbyist, the last thing I would do was to choose a live fish to eat it twenty minutes later... I simply couldn't. Nevertheless the place looks like a colorful public aquarium and your shots are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI missed fresh fish or any seafood. The meat is sweet when it's fresh. Happy Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteRed Tractor
50 kgs a year?! wow! i had guests from HK a few months ago-brought them to Cebu. while i was shocked at the prices of live seafoods at Olango Island, my guests told me the prices are cheap! they binged on lapu-lapu, abalone, crabs, shrimps, scallops, and lobster.:p
ReplyDeleteWhat a choice ! I love seafood ! that would be a place for me !
ReplyDeleteSome fantastic photos of the seafood choices on display.
ReplyDeletewill you please catch some crabs and lobsters please? I like the cooked in Chilli.
ReplyDeleteWith all you travels, what is your best cuisine?
Skipping around backwards on your lovely blog and I really should have skipped this post, because now I can't wait for dinner. Which won't be as delicious as yours here was. Yumm -- what a great place.
ReplyDeleteColourful post.
ReplyDelete