All About Cobia
Once again this week the Rookery is charting new territory in the Wisconsin Northwoods with an all-new Fresh Fish UN-Fry. If you can name another restaurant in these parts that has ever served cobia your first drink this weekend is on us!
In fact, let's up the ante. If you order fresh cobia at the Rookery this week and can legitimately claim to have eaten it before ANYWHERE in the world we'll throw in a bottle of wine at half price! Unless, of course, our cobia tastes better. Than your wine is double the price (just kidding).
Cobia is a warm-water species found in many oceans around the world. Due to their solitary nature they are rarely fished in the wild other than recreationally. But cobia are becoming increasingly popular in the aquaculture industry because they grow fast and generally command a high price for their firm texture and excellent flavor. Chefs Jamie Oliver and Mario Batali each cooked several dishes made with cobia in the "Battle Cobia" episode of Iron Chef America.
Cobia are yet another example of the premise that source matters when it comes to farm-raised seafood -- just as we discussed last month when the Rookery featured organic farm-raised salmon from Scotland's Shetland Islands.
In many places outside the U.S. cobia is farmed in floating or submerged pens in nearshore and open ocean waters. This creates a risk of disease transfer, escapes, and pollution impacts on surrounding ecosystems and species. In the U.S. cobia is farmed inland with closed recirculating systems where diseases, escapes, effluent, and potential pollutants can be managed and treated. U.S. farmed cobia also are fed less fish meal and fish oil than those farmed elsewhere.
For these reasons SeafoodWATCH rates U.S. farmed cobia a "Best Choice," while advising consumers to "Avoid" imported farmed cobia.
Fresh U.S. farm-raised cobia, pan seared with brie enriched risotto, candied carrots, and a pink peppercorn vermouth butter sauce. This weekend, Thursday thru Sunday (or until it sells out). Only at the Rookery!
Murder Mystery Dinner
Looking for something fun and unique to do this winter? Round up a group of 8 friends and figure out who among them done it...over a fabulous four course dinner served in our private dining room.
The setting? A 1920s speakeasy in old Chicago. You and your dinner companions will assume the role of one of eight beguiling characters. We'll provide the script, the costume suggestions, and of course an amazing Rookery feast. All you need to bring is your sense of humor and a light-hearted approach toward deceit, larceny, sex, and murder.
Flexible dates available by reservation only, $69/person. |
