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FOR PISCIVOROUS PEOPLE...
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FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL HEART MONTH!
Fish and Seafood for a Healthy HEART!
There is no bad time to make a good resolution.
American Heart Association on Fish
Fish and seafoods can play a big part of a healthy diet. They are good lean protein, low fat and low cholesterol. There have been numerous studies attributing fish to many more health benefits than any probable risk.
Even pregnant women are encouraged to eat certain types of fish a couple times a week to promote their unborn babies health.page of our website.
A minimum of two servings of fish per week is the general consensus for good health.
Resolve to try some new fish and/or recipes. We are here to help and guide you to healthy eating. We have many simple and tasty recipes on our website. Try a new one once a month or come to a class to kick start your cooking.
With your busy schedules and little time for cooking, don't forget to try some of our ready to go meals and fresh soups for home and our sushi and lunch menus for on the go!
Take advantage of our weekly specials and every day in-store specials. Be sure to use your "Dirk'$ Dollar$" and get a few bucks off your purchase too!
Besides cold weather, January brings us...
Fresh Bairdi Snow Crab Legs
It's not King crab but its darn good!
Another great sustainable seafood from Dutch Harbor, Alaska
The weather in Alaska has been very cold and there is a lot of ice on the Bering sea and in the harbors. This makes it tough for the boats to get out and to set and retrieve the crab pots. Hopefully we should see some crab mid month and then have it available for a couple of months.
Keep checking the website, as soon as I hear something about a change in weather and a delivery time, I will let you know. |
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TO YOUR HEART, FROM OURS...
VALENTINE'S DAY COUPON
Bring this coupon in to recieve $5.00 off your purchase of$25.00 or more.
VALID ONLY February 13th thru 15th 2009 |
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FISH AND SUSTAINABILITY
Trapnet fishing in the Great Lakes
Here in the Midwest, one of our greatest assets are the vast freshwater inland seas called the "Great Lakes. From Lake Ontario in the east to Lake Michigan in our own backyard, these lakes provide us with some great sustainable fish options. These lakes have various well managed fishies with some best tasting fish around. Trapnet caught Lake Whitefish, Walleye Pike, and Yellow Lake Perch are among the top favorites and become more available now that we are heading toward spring(hard to believe).
Trapnets are used like fish corrals guiding the fish to the "pot" or trap. Using trapnets catches the fish alive and allows for the release of undersized and non targeted species.
Trapnet
This month two of our features are popular Midwestern fish: Lake Whitefish and Walleye Pike. These classic lake fish are enjoyed in many ways. From Door County fish boils, to gefilte fish, pan fried pike, or plank smoked whitefish on the grill, these fish will please the most discriminating palate. Check out the Shedd link below for more information.
Great Lakes fish
We became partners with the Shedd Aquarium last year so that we could coordinate our efforts in educating people about fish, fishing practices and health. We felt that once people had gone to the Aquarium and soaked in the sustainability message that they would need a place to go to purchase fish and seafood that they could feel was procured in ocean friendly manner. Fish that they could feel good about eating. Dirk's Fish is such a place.
I research all the fish that comes through our doors with a close eye on the various "Fish Lists", Monterey Bay Aquarium and Shedd Aquarium in particular.We really try to stay current on all sustainability issues to insure that the fish you buy from us is from a viable and renewable resource and one that you can feel good about eating. I will be adding a sustainability page to my website soon that will be more in depth on all the issues. We are also going to be working with the Shedd Aquarium to promote their Rite Bite program. Pick up one of the Shedd's wallet card at the shop when you come in. It's a great place to start looking for your new favorite fish!
Here are some links to a few websites to further your knowledge...
I encourage you to call us with any questions or concerns you may have.
Dirk Fucik |
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Lake Whitefish
Coregonus clupeaformis
Lake whitefish has long been a staple at local fish markets. A midwestern specialty that has many cultural ties. Early Native Americans caught and thrived on these fish caught in traps and weirs. European immigrants discovered whitefish as a replacement for their own native fish. In more recent history, Door County fish boils are a summer specialty in northern Wisconsin and whitefish is one of the main ingredients in Passover gefilte fish. My personal favorite way to cook whitefish is cedar plank smoked on a grill. This keeps the fish moist and imparts a great smokey campfire flavor even off of a gas grill. Whitefish are trap net caught providing a sustainable fishery with no bycatch. Our fish are coming out of the northern great lakes, Michigan and Superior. These fish from colder waters produces a firmer flesh and high fat content which is what we want for the best taste. We buy all whitefish whole and fillet them as needed to provide you with the freshest fish you can get. Try some today!
Try these recipes...
Regular Price:$12.00 per pound
Special Price:$10.00 per pound
February 2nd thru 8th |
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Heart Healthy Salmon
Salmon farm on Vancouver Island February is National Heart Month and there are so many studies showing how good fish and seafood is for your heart! Salmon of all kinds is high on that list. It's never too early to be good to our hearts and salmon in any form is one of the best foods for our health! We carry fresh farmed Atlantic salmon and King salmon cut from fresh whole fish we receive every day(except Sundays), this insures you of the freshest salmon in Chicagoland! We have been buying our Scottish salmon from a few select farms in Scotland that have a good track record for treating the fish and the environment with more care than many others. Our king salmon comes from Creative Salmon which farms it's fish on Vancouver Island in Canada with minimal environmental impact. While farmed salmon is on the Avoid list of Monterey Bay Aquariums fish list, it is a general blanket recommendation for the general public. Wild salmon does have a bigger flavor than farmed but since it's only available frozen this time of year, we choose not to carry it.
Aquaculture in general is improving and many salmon farms have refined their methods and are getting better at what they do on a regular basis. We use fish from these particular farms.
I also have to mention that for sushi, farmed Atlantic salmon is the first choice for mild flavor and high fat content. Our Scottish salmon is particularly good for sushi and sashimi. We would be happy to slice you some!
Scottish Atlantic Salmon: Regular price: $16.00 lb.
Special price: $12.00 lb.
King Salmon: Regular price: $20.00 lb.
Special price: $18.00 lb.
February 9th thru February 15th | |
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Walleye Pike
Sander vitreus
Most of the walleye that is commercially fished comes from the Canadian side of Lake Eire. The fishery there has gone through its ups and downs and at present because of vigorous management is now considered to be rebuilding to previous levels. Most of the fish are caught in gillnets which sometimes has a by-catch issue but by-catch is low enough for the walleye to be considered a good alternative on the fish lists.
That all said, walleye is in my personal top ten list(I used to have a top 5 favorites list that included walleye but I had to expand). There is nothing like a fresh caught walleye fillet sizzling in the pan on a Minnesota wilderness shoreline for lunch. That's wonderful experience but you can duplicate the taste in your own kitchen with our pan sauteed walleye recipe. Walleye makes the best fish sandwich too. Try some on a toasted roll and Terry's Spicy Slaw recipe to top it off. Try it and see if walleye doesn't make your list too!
Regular Price: $20.00 per pound
Special Price: $18.00 per pound
February 9th thru 15th |
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Blue Mussels
Mytilus edulis
A freshly opened bag of Canadian mussels
We had these mussels for dinner the other night and they were so succulent and tasty that I figured we had to put them on special this month. Everyone should try these titbits of the sea. Mussels are so easy to cook and are one of the best cheap dinners you can make at home! We have even dropped the price to entice you even more.
90% of all mussels eaten today are farm raised and we prefer the mussels from Prince Edward Island in Canada. The cold, clean waters of the North Atlantic provide some of the sweetest mussels we've ever tasted.
Mussels in Paella
Mussels are considered a Best Choice on the fish lists because they are raised in a environmentally sound fashion. They are grown on ropes suspended off the ocean floor on floats and take their food directly from the surrounding waters. When it is time to harvest, the ropes are just pulled up resulting in no damage to the sea floor and providing a very clean and fresh product.
We hand pick your mussels for you when you buy them from us to insure that you receive no crushed or open shells. Mussels are best used on the day of purchase. Of all shellfish, I find mussels to be the most delicate for storage. They just need a quick rinse in freshwater just before cooking. The best recipes are the easiest ones and mussels really only need a few minutes for cooking. We love them steamed, pan sauteed, in paella, chowders, stews, and soups. Figure at least a pound per person as a main course and they make a wonderful appetizer to any meal. Try a couple of our recipes.
Regular Price: $5.00 per pound
Special Price: $3.50 per pound
February 23rd thru March 1st | |
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| OUR NEXT CLASSES...
Start the New Year off with one of our classes/dinners.
You will find that our classes are different from most other cooking classes. People are starting to call them "underground dinners", sign up up and find out why. We are kicking up our presentations for 2009! Bring a friend, your favorite bottle of wine and your appetite for an evening of educational fun and great food. Sign up soon!
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A Great Valentine's Day Gift! THE ART OF MAKING SUSHI
This is a great class for the person eager to learn about making their own sushi at home. We will be demonstrating five maki and two nigiri, while you are sampling our homemade miso soup and fresh tuna/avocado salad. After that it's hands on and you will be rolling on your own.
Bring a friend or two, and your appetite because it's all that you roll, you eat!
Bring a bottle of your favorite beverage (sake maybe) and be prepared for an evening of fun and food!
We will tweak this class up a bit with a Valentine's Day twist!
Class is limited to 20 people
Tuesday, February 10th 7:30 until 9:30
$75.00 per person.
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DINNER: Appetizer to Dessert!
We will be demonstrating a complete dinner tonight. Just follow our suggested recipes and you will come up looking like a pro!
- Savory Herb and Crab Stuffed Mushroom Caps
- Wild Rice, Mushroom, and Shrimp Soup
- Thai Coconut Basil Kampachi with Coconut and Mango Jasmine Rice
- Dirk's Favorite Apple Crisp
Bring a date or your mate!
Bring your appetites and eat!
Bring a bottle of wine and drink!
Enjoy some great educational culinary fun in a casual atmosphere.
$65.00 per person
Tuesday, February 24th 7:30 until 9:00ish
Call ahead for reservations class limited to 16 people
(We have a 48 hour cancelation policy for all classes)
************************************************* 773.404.3475 |
| Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop
2070 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago Il. 60614
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"WHEN ONLY THE VERY BEST WILL DO"
If you want to try something new or impress that special person, we can get you almost anything you wish from the water; fish or seafood. If you need some special attention or a great recipe, our friendly and knowledgeable staff can provide that too.
If you are looking for something in particular, give us a call and we will do our best to get what you need.
"LIFE'S NOT PERFECT...
BUT YOUR FISH SHOULD BE!"
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