Freshwater shad. From a family of migratory fish, the shad is a bony, tasty, oily fish similar to herring, which travels up rivers in spring and is found in deep lakes. It is famously found in Lake Como in May and June each year, when it is often dried, pressed with bay leaves, grilled and then marinated in vinegar and thyme or cured, in which case it is called missoltit, or missoltini. To cook fresh it is marinated and then deep fried. Members of the family include Allis shad (Alosa alosa) and the smaller twaite shad or gizzard shad (Alosa fallax).
