Friday 8 October 2010

The return of the revenge of the Friday conundrum

I hate fish. I really, really hate the smell of it, the fishy taste, the bones, the skin, everything about the whole thing.

Which is unfortunate, because it was served for dinner every Friday at home, because we were good Catholics. Only once I went to university was I allowed to do myself a fried egg or something instead. Before that, if I didn't eat it over the course of the entire evening, it was served for breakfast and subsequent meals ad infinitum. I would cover it in tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, anything to make it less fishy, and I'd still gag. At some point, we got a cat, which was bright enough to sit under my chair on Friday evenings. I seem to recall sneaking the offending substance into a drawer in the dining table prior to my feline friend appearing, but it wasn't a long-term solution.

How would you persuade me that fish isn't poisonous muck? And what foods make you retch?

In the interests of full disclosure, only fish makes me feel like this - I adore prawns, mussels, scallops etc., and I merely dislike rhubarb, gooseberries and raspberries - all things my mother grows in abundance.

9 comments:

Ewarwoowar said...

I'm not a huge fan of fish, to be honest. I've never had fish and chips from a chippie either!

However, salmon and lobster (not strictly a "fish" I know but work with me) are both splendid.

Not many foods I dislike - anything peanut based, sprouts and mushrooms really. I'm not a fan of things like cauliflower and broccoli but I cant say I despise them.

neal said...

As long as the food has been well prepared and isn't processed crap I have yet to find a foodstuff that I dislike, and I've tried some weird stuff, ant's larvae, maguey grubs, rattlesnake, grasshoppers...

School dinners used to make me wretch though, I remember being completely unable to put Smash in my mouth without gagging, so much so that I didn't try mashed potato until I was 21 when a mate's mom served it me with loads of cheese and cream in it. Mmmmm delicious.

I find you're fish aversion quite baffling, as fish are amazing, there are so many types to try all deliciously different. Because of this I think you're problem has to be psychological, maybe you could try hypnotherapy.

On the other hand you're doing the world a favour by not depleting fish stocks, so should just stay exactly how you are.

Sinéad said...

I rather like fish, but I won't try to persuade you that it isn't poisonous muck because...

Cauli-gag-flower-beuch. I can't even type it without it hitting a virtual vomit-trigger. Ugh!

neal said...

Before you say it you're should be your... not sure why I did that.

Connie said...

In the summer I had crab ravioli in a fish sauce. When the server placed it on the table the smell of fish made me feel nauseous but the taste was amazing! And normally I dislike fish too, but it's because I don't like fiddling with the bones. So the secret is not to smell it. Rhubarb and gooseberries are both wonderful- god, in everything! Ice-creams, yoghurts, fools or as crumbles with custard. Real comfort food.

The food of the devil includes black pudding, kidneys, liver, pigs' trotters, in fact anything that has either trodden in shit or has had shit and urine pass through it. And lamb. A newborn lamb actually smells of roast lamb. And talking of smells, chicken cooked in a microwave is without doubt the most evil smelling thing I have ever had to experience. Try it. You will need therapy afterwards.

Graham Quirk said...

Ooooh! I have to admit to developing a recent addiction to fish and chips. I started swimming/gym at the start of the summer and ever since I've craved fish and chips. I reckon it's something to do with the high levels of protein and salt.
I must confess that matters ecological are not normally at the forefront of my my mind but one thing that really does concern me is the depletion of the sea's resources, so i always ask the guy in our local chippy what kind of fish he's serving. It's usually pollock or whiting, which i feel slightly less guilty about eating than cod. Did you know a fully grown atlantic cod should reach around 6-7 feet in length and weigh around 150 pounds? It's scary to think within 10 years the species could vanish completely if current trends continue.

Sue's Blog said...

Great to see the Friday Conundrum back again - it was missed!

Sorry to hear that you were force-fed fish as a child, no wonder it put you off.
In its favour, fish is great brain food. Your parents were doing their duty as Catholics, and the fish helped to turn you into the very intelligent Vole you are today.
Like your other blog readers I love fish and chips - with loads of salt and vinegar. The hot fatty smell of chip shops is divine.
I was a vegetarian in the past, I’m not now, but I could not eat rare meat – anything dripping in blood makes me feel sick.

Some Chilean Woman said...

I'd make you a lovely Ceviche if I could, you would get over your fish issues. It worked for my Scotsman.

I will not have: rhubarb, Root-Beer, Jolly Ranchers, or anything grape flavored because it never really does taste like grape.

The Plashing Vole said...

Luncheon meat - pure mechanically recovered crap.

I'm glad fish stocks are at an all-time low. It's time we wiped out these glassy-eyed freeloaders once and for all.

Sue - you don't like offal! What a treat you're missing. I do fine trotters, and I love haggis almost as much as cheese.