Grey gurnard, the most common of the gurnards. Gurnards are strange-looking, bottom-feeding fish which use the three bottom rays of their pectoral fins to "feel" the sea bed. They have firm-textured white meat with not much flavour. They are rich in protein, iodine and phosphorus. The grey gurnard has a brownish-grey back and silver belly and all gurnards are very bony fish. Small ones are excellent in soup. Red or grey mullet (US: striped mullet) can generally be subsituted for it, and are usually better.
Caffeine. An alkaloid present in coffee, tea and cola nuts. This is a stimulant with diuretic properties. Taken in excess it can be toxic and has addictive qualities.
Plantain. An unripe, green banana. This is a starchy type of banana with firm flesh. If it is the variety used for desserts it is cooked when it is green, but it is left to ripen if it is the less sweet type. It is a staple food in many tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world.
