Seasonal Pairing Guide: Which Fish Goes With Which Weather
At Fishbone Fine Foods Deli, we believe that dinner and the weather should be in conversation. Here is our guide to pairing your fish with the sky.
Bright, cold mornings
Pair with: smoked haddock. The sharp air calls for a smoky depth. Serve on a warmed plate, and sit near a window so the fish can observe the frost.
Grey drizzle
Pair with: tinned sardines, in oil, with a slice of toast. This is the weather for comfort and low expectations. The sardine understands.
Warm, bright afternoons
Pair with: a cold poached salmon, gently flaked. Eat in the shade and pretend you are on holiday. The salmon, which has been on holiday, will say nothing.
Thunderstorms
Pair with: nothing. Hide under the bed. If you must eat, choose a small bowl of whatever is nearest, and eat it fast.
Gentle snow
Pair with: a warm fish pie, with a crust that cracks like frozen puddles. Add a spoonful of peas for colour, and a dollop of anchovy paste for courage.
Windy days
Pair with: something heavy, such as a whole trout. Wind is for stability. A heavy fish keeps the household anchored.
Fog
Pair with: kippers. In fog, everything is a mystery, and so is a kipper.
A short table
- Frost: haddock
- Drizzle: sardine
- Sunshine: salmon
- Storm: no fish, only fear
- Snow: pie
- Wind: trout
- Fog: kipper
The weather is out of our hands. The fish is not.
Notes on service
Fish should be served at the temperature of the room, unless the room is on fire. All plates should be wiped with a paw. The wiping is not necessary, but it adds a sense of occasion.
We update this guide each season. This year, we added a section on rainbows, which is currently blank, because nobody has had a good idea for it.
