Giant puffball. An edible mushroom which slices almost like bread. Use only the smaller ones and they should be heavy and firm. If they are light in weight than they have dried up. Always cut them open from top to bottom with a sharp knife to check the interior
A grape which was historically grown in Jerez and used in making sherry as well Palomino Fino. The drink produced was sweet and dark, but it was more often used as an additive grape. Most is now acquired from Montilla near Cordoba where it is traditionally picked and then dried in the sun to concentrate the sugars. It is used in Málaga wines as well as for Montilla, dessert wines with syrupy style.
Slippery Jack mushroom, also known as the sticky bun. Listed as edible but some people do have allergic reactions to it.
Weever or dragon fish. A marine fish with poisonous spines. Alec, of Padstow Angling Centre tells me that the greater weever is one of the finest fishes to eat. This is a place that knows its fish, so I look forward to trying it as soon as I can.
Cobia. These fish are found in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and are pelagic. Feeding mainly on crabs and small squid, this adds to the flavour of their own, firmly-textured flesh. They are typically served in the form of grilled or poached fillets.
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.
Argentine. A small marine fish with silvery scales similar to a sardine or a smelt. It is usually grilled or fried.
Monkfish (US: angler fish). A fish with a sweet flavour and succulent firm flesh but with the ugliest appearance imaginable. It is found in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, in coastal waters of north western Europe. It can be recognised by its large head and fan-shaped fins. The fins and the operculum are spiny. It can be eaten fried or in soup. The larger fish often have better flavour. It has a hideous head, which is why it is usually displayed without it, and a muddy colour. It is known as the anglerfish as it bears on its head a 'rod' and 'lure' which attract its prey. The meat of the tail is sweet and succulent - almost like lobster meat, entirely compensating for is appearance. The flavour may well be assisted by its own diet which is high in shellfish. The best monkfish are Lophius piscatorius and the similar Lophius budegassa, the favourite of the Spanish. American monkfish or goosefish (Lophius americanus) is considered inferior, while New Zealand monkfish (Kathetostoma giganteum) is related to the stargazer and is only fit for soup.
