ENJOY SEPTEMBER!
The bad news is, we are still waiting for our summer, the good news is, I think we will have a long and beautiful fall!
This is the month of the Harvest Moon. This native American name is based on all the wonderful things that come to fruition this time of year. It's one of my favorite months to hit the Green City Market and there are many wonderful fish options available for late summer grilling! Yes, I know that summer has been a bit lacking this year but there is still plenty of great grilling ahead! Why not plan on a tasty Labor Day grill party! I'm thinking lobsters. Try this recipe: Whole Grilled Lobster.
We still have wonderful wild salmon, halibut, soft shell crabs, and new addition to our sustainable list, Carolina Wreckfish, plus many other grilling favorites. Stop by on Saturdays when we are sampling great fish off our awesome DSC gas grill and the venerable Green Egg!
Loving my DSC gas grill!
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Happy New Year!
The holidays are fast approaching, don't forget that we have the freshest fish available for your homemade gefilte fish. Dirk's does it all, from cutting and grinding the way you like to making our own homemade gefilte fish to grace your holiday table. We also have smoked fish, whitefish spread, poached salmon and smoked fish trays. Hickory smoked salmon and whole smoked whitefish are to die for! Call ahead and we will make your holiday one that will become a fond memory!
$5.00 each and don't forget the horseradish!
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Fresh Pasta by...
Stop by Saturday, September 26th for a pasta cooking and tasting by Jessica Volpe, the Pasta Puttana. We will match up some great seafood: Laughing Bird shrimp, fresh sea urchin, hickory smoked salmon, and Terry's white clam sauce are a few of the choices for topping her fresh pastas. The sea urchin sauce over her pasta is phenomenal! She will bring a good supply of her fresh pasta so you can pick your favorite one for dinner, if you can pick only one!
Jessica
Fresh, local, and organic**************************2009 CHICAGO GOURMET SHOW
September 26 and 27th
Millennium Park
Now in it's second year, this is Chicago's answer to the Food Network's South Beach and New York food extravaganzas. With a local focus, this food event brings together many familiar faces and restaurants. Cooking demos, food tasting and especially wine sampling make this a great event worthy of the rather pricey ticket. Terry got on stage last year, did a 3 minute demo on TV and made quite a splash. We will be there all day Sunday, hope to see you there! For more information and tickets:ChicagoGourmetShow
Art Smith, Terry and Dirk
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MUST SEE...
The Cove
Everyone with a concern for the oceans and conservation needs to see this movie. This documentary details the exploitation and slaughter of dolphins in Taiji Japan. It is a very hard movie to watch(we left crying) but I highly recommend seeing it. It will open your eyes and make you think and when you experience this movie this you can't help but react.
Save Japan Dolphins
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9th annual Chicago River Flatwater Classic
Paddle-a-thon, Sunday, October 5th
The Friends of the Chicago River preserves, protects and fosters the vitality of the Chicago River for plant, animal, and human communities within its watershed. With the Chicago River being such a prominent feature of our city, I think it's important to preserve its well being. Many plants and animals communities rely on this watershed and with some help from us this habitat can be further preserved and enhanced for all to use.I will be paddling in the 7 mile Flatwater Classic this year and am looking for some conservation minded people to sponsor my paddle to benefit this great organization. Stop by Dirk's Fish to make your pledge and I'll see you on the river!
Many Thanks, Dirk
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"Sell a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and you ruin a wonderful business opportunity"
Karl Marx
GOT FISH? SUSTAINABLE FISH?
Don't forget to use the coupons below for even more savings! |
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DIRK'$ DOLLAR$
Take $5.00 off your fish and/or seafood purchase of $20.00 or more. One coupon per customer, please.
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DIRK'$ DOLLAR$
Take $5.00 off your fish and/or seafood purchase of $20.00 or more. One coupon per customer, please.
September 16th thru 30st
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Sustainable Fish is Forever
So you can feel good about what you eat!
Got Fish? Sustainable Fish?
Sustainability has many definitions. What it boils down to for me is to be sure that the fish and seafood I purchase comes from reliable sources that have an eye on the future of wild fish stocks and from farms that are environmentally responsible with proven growing practices and that are continuing to improve their methods.
I regularly research and explore many avenues of information daily, from the Monterey Bay and Shedd Aquariums, National Fisheries Institute, Seafood Business, National Marine Fisheries Service, FDA, various environmental groups, scientific studies, private groups, local fish purveyors and even the national media for the most up to date information I can find. I use Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program as my main base of information on specific species. They research a very comprehensive list with only few grey areas. This determines what I buy and what I sell in my store. I will not purchase fish that I think may be over exploited, over fished or endangered. What I sell in my store has traceability and is from sustainable fisheries with good fishing and handling practices as well as green farming methods. Fish is a volatile commodity and is constantly changing. My promise to you is that I provide you with the best choices in freshest fish and seafood that you can buy. I want you can feel good about what you eat!
Monterey Bay Aquarium from the bay
I will not be selling any...
Bluefin Tuna, wild or ranched
Freshwater eel (unagi)
Imported Sturgeon Caviar
Shark
My list will change in accordance to my personal and professional research. |
Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss When in doubt, rainbow trout!
This sums up the popularity of one of America's oldest fish farming success stories. Farmed rainbow has been available commercially since the 1950s. They are raised in cold water raceways in Idaho, Montana, South Carolina and even Wisconsin. Rushing Waters trout farm is as close as Palmyra, Wisconsin, about 90 miles from Chicago. We procure some of our fish from there. It's as fresh as you can get without casting a fly on your own!
Rainbow trout come in a variety of colors. Basic rainbow trout are dark skinned and white fleshed.There is a color variant the produces a golden rainbow trout. The flesh of ruby red trout is colored by adding a caroteniod, astaxanthin, to their feed. This is the same thing that colors the meat of wild salmon when they feed on krill or small shrimp.
Rainbow trout can be cooked whole on the grill, head and dressed for a fry pan, boned for stuffing and baked or filleted and sauteed. We had ours last night grilled and topped with a fresh basil pesto picked right from the garden! It is a most versatile fish and its mild enough for the pickiest person.
Farmed rainbow trout are listed a a Best Sustainable choice by MBA and Shedd Aquarium. This weeks special is for trout fillets, both red and white.
Regular price: $12.00 per pound
Special price: $9.00 per pound
September 1st thru 6th |
Wreckfish
Polyprion americanus
Wreckfish (photo courtesy of Chicagofishdude)
There's a new fish on the block and a very tasty one at that!
Know as Wreckfish or Atlantic Stone Bass, this fish is caught in a very select artisan fishery using traditional methods. Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina is where this fish is landed using a hook and line method that results in no bycatch or habitat destruction. This family owned business is the main source of income for the community and by purchasing this fish you are supporting a vibrant domestic fishery.
Wreckfish is similar to grouper with a very firm white and flakey flesh that grills particularly well. Or try it cut thin and pan seared.
Each fillet weighs about 5 pounds!
Regular Price:25.00 per pound
Special price:$22.00 per pound
September 7th thru 13th |
ALASKAN BLACK COD
Anoplopoma fimbri They taste better than they look! Black cod or "sablefish" is named for its black or very dark grey skin but it's know for its succulent buttery flesh. This
fish is wild caught in one of the most sustainable fisheries in Alaska.
Marine Steward Councilship certified and listed as a "Best Choice' by MBA. The season runs from March through November, although some is caught as
a by-catch when fishing for other species in the winter months. There is some Canadian farm raised black cod available which we will carry in the winter months. Black
cod has many names but isn't really a cod at all. It's sometimes called
"sable", especially when it's smoked. Cold smoked sable is a real
delicacy and we have it in stock regularly. You may find it in some
restaurants called "butterfish" due to its smooth and creamy texture.
(Use it as a less expensive substitute for Chilean sea bass). The
most popular (and tastiest) recipe for this fish is simply soaked for a
couple of hours in miso marinade then grilled or broiled.
Regular price: $28.00 per pound
Special price:$25.00 per pound
September 14th thru 21th |
FRESH SUSHI SPECIALMaki Rolls, your choice As many of you know, we roll sushi. We roll darn good sushi. Now we want those of you that have not tried our sushi to belly up to the sushi bar and try a roll. Using only the very best sustainable fish (no bluefin tuna, no unagi), our sushi is hand rolled to order while you wait or phoned it in and we will have your maki waiting for you just in time for lunch. Eat here or take out. Try the Dirk's Deluxe tuna roll or Salmon Mango roll both of which are our top sellers! Check out our sushi menu online: Dirk's Sushi Menu
Call ahead for the best service.
Special price: $1.00 off each Maki Roll
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SEPTEMBER COOKING CLASS
Join us for one of our original cooking classes. We come up with many easy to prepare delicious fish and seafood recipes. Only sustainable ocean products are used in all our cooking classes so you can feel good about what you eat. Terry, Dirk's wife is an awesome cook and is instrumental in developing our recipes. Our classes are mostly demonstrations where you watch, ask questions and eat all that we prepare. B.Y.O.B. your favorite beverage and join us for a casual evening of educational fun and good eating. Come hungry, we serve all that we cook and it's always a. very fulfilling meal!
HANDS ON SUSHI CLASS
One of our most popular classes!
Join us for our first hands on sushi class of the fall season. After taking part in this class you will be confidently rolling your own sushi at home and saving money in the process. This class is fun and casual as well as very informative.
We will first demonstrate 5 different maki rolls and 2 nigiri while serving you our homemade miso soup and a fresh tuna and avocado salad. You will then pair up and open your kit of ingredients and roll all the sushi you can eat. B.Y.O.B and plan on being very full when you are finished!
Bring some friends and make a night of it, the more the merrier!
Tuesday, September 29th 7:30 until 9:30ish $75.00 per person
Call ahead for reservations. Class limited to 16 people
Primitive cooking in Alaska | |
Life's not perfect, but your fish should be!
If you ever have any questions ar concerns obout the fish you eat or the way to prepare it, please feel free to call us, we are here to help and educate you. When you what something special don't hesitate to call us. Without our great customers we would not be here and we thank you!
Dirk & Terry Fucik and the Crew
Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop
2070 N. Clybourn Ave. Chicago, Il.
773.404.3475 wwwdirksfish.com |
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