On 9/8/2018 11:46 AM, l not -l wrote:
> On 8-Sep-2018, wrote:
>
>> On 9/8/2018 9:26 AM, l not -l wrote:
>>> On 7-Sep-2018, Wayne Boatwright > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Fri 07 Sep 2018 05:46:07p, Doris Night told us...
>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, 7 Sep 2018 20:34:59 GMT, "l not -l" >
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> This thread and another that mentioned a fried cod meal got me to
>>>>>> thinking; I wonder why cod is often called codfish and tuna is
>>>>>> often called tunafish. I don't know of anything other than fish
>>>>>> that is known as cod or tuna. No other fish I know are referred
>>>>>> to by anything other than their specie name; no tilapiafish or
>>>>>> salmonfish or whatever. Just one of those odd things that I
>>>>>> sometimes wonder about.
>>>>>
>>>>> What about monkfish?
>>>>>
>>>>> Doris
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I doubt that most people would call it "monk". :-)
>>>>
>>>> --
>>> I'm surprised that, to me, an obscure fish is the one pointed out and
>>> not
>>> the obvious oversight on my part - catfish. In my defense, I have never
>>> had, nor seen, monkfish and to the best of my knowledge, I have never
>>> eaten
>>> catfish.
>>>
>> Wait a minute... what? You've never eaten catfish? I *know* I've never
>> eaten monkfish but catfish is practically a staple.
>
> That is correct; I grew up in a family that was against most fish and
> rabidly against catfish. The only fish (as food, we did have goldfish) my
> father would allow in our home was ocean perch; I have no idea why that fish
> was acceptable to him and not others. From birth, the only things I ever
> heard about catfish were negative and disgusting; so, I grew up thinking
> catfish are disgusting. In a world where there are so many fish varieties
> that weren't so maligned, I just never found a need to get over my catfish
> aversion. Why eat catfish when cod and salmon are readily available?
>

Catfish are not a pretty fish, granted. Hey, I didn't grow up eating
catfish, either, even though we lived in Memphis for a lot of years. My
parents were from Ohio. LOL

I don't have an aversion to it. It's a mild, white fish. Farm raised
in fresh water. Not like an image of Tom Sawyer fishing on the banks of
the Mississippi.

I love cod. Have to say I'm not a huge fan of salmon (except the canned
variety for making salmon patties - that's something I grew up with.)
When it comes to fresh salmon I can take it or leave it... unless we're
talking thinly sliced smoked salmon (aka lox!). Love that stuff!

I did grow up eating ocean perch, but it was always from frozen. Mom
would buy a package of frozen perch at the Commissary. (Dad was
military, she always shopped at the Commissary.) I remember her letting
it thaw on the kitchen counter and she had to separate the very thin
fillets from this frozen block. Not really an attractive introduction
to fish. IIRC, it was kind of bland, I think she baked it. I've said
before, my mother was not an adventurous or even enthusiastic cook. To
her it was a necessary chore.

I hesitate to think what my cooking would be like if I'd never ventured
away from her repertoire. Minute rice, instant mashed potato flakes,
frozen "family size" meat & gravy entrees. And bland, baked perch. LOL

I discovered catfish and many other fish and seafood all by myself. Once
I was out on my own I started watching cooking shows and reading
cookbooks. Trying all kinds of different foods and recipes. My mother
once asked me where I got my "cooking gene".

At any rate, catfish is a mild, white, flaky fish. Nothing to be afraid
of.

Jill