I’ve been hungry for some food from the Fish for a while, and today I decided to take care of that craving with A fish – a WHOLE fish. In my entire life I have never had a whole fish for dinner. Tonight I decided to give one a try. I got the snapper Vera Cruz – snapper covered in a spicy tomato sauce with veggies.
When I first ate fish as a kid, my mother and grandmother told me I had to chew 24 times. Or 28 times. Or some ridiculous number like that. At the time I didn’t understand why. I was eating fish from Long John Silver’s and there was not a bone to be found. Nor was there a bone in any of the fish I’ve ever eaten at the Flying Fish. However, those were fried/grilled filets.
This, on the other hand, was the real deal. A red snapper, fried whole. There were bones galore. I had to chew and chew and chew and chew to make sure I didn’t swallow anything I didn’t want to. Separating the meat from the bones was an adventure. The spicy Vera Cruz sauce complimented the fish as I picked it off the bones, as did the medium-hot green Tabasco sauce I sprinkled on the fish and rice. For those of you who order this dish, don’t forget to flip it over – there’s an entire ‘nother half a fish to be eaten!
It was about as much food as the snapper filet meal, three and a half dollars cheaper at $9.99. Was it worth the extra money to get the whole fish? Once, for the experience. The Vera Cruz sauce was worth a little extra too, although you can get that on any entree at the Fish for $1.29 more. Glad I tried it, but from now on I’m going to let the kitchen take care of the bones.
Been an interesting day. Here’s a pro tip: If you’re from Nesbit, Mississippi, don’t check in at “Some Podunk Town in Alabama” as you’re coming back from the beach.
Stopped at Bardog and Saucer before hitting the Fish. Now that I’m fed, back out for round two.