John Dory. A high quality, plump, flattish fish with a golden sheen, with an ugly but amiable face. It was first associated with Zeus, then with St Peter, as evidenced by the ‘finger marks’ left by him when he picked it up to remove a coin from its mouth to pay some taxes. It is also plaice and was served to us in Pinhao in the Douro as brill.
Wolf-fish. Marine catfish. A fish of northern waters. It is medium oily and white-fleshed. Since it eats shellfish, its own flavour is good. Its jaws are strong and it has a blunt head which lend to its unattractive appearance, which is why it is normally sold filleted or in cutlets. It has few small bones and can be prepared in the same way as monkfish (US: angler fish), in stews or grilled. It is sometimes sold as rock salmon or rock turbot.
Pilot fish. A distinctive, striped fish of the Mediterranean where it is mainly found around the Balearics and Malta. It is good for either grilling or poaching, having firm white flesh.
An Atlantic atherine which has found its way into the Mediterranean. A marine fish, usually deep-fried, it is a small, silvery fish similar to the argentine. When tiny it is treated in the same way as whitebait. This fish grows up to 18 cm.
"St Peter fish." John Dory. A high quality, plump, flattish fish with a golden sheen, with an ugly but amiable face. It was first associated with Zeus, then with St Peter, as evidenced by the ‘finger marks’ left by him when he picked it up to remove a coin from its mouth to pay some taxes. It is also plaice.
