Go Fish

These days I have been having a craving for fish. Maybe there is something in the nutrients that my body needs. I try to listen to my cravings. They are the secret language my body has designed to communicate with me. Sometimes, of course, the cravings are also there to trick me, like cravings for sweets, rich fatty foods, or too much alcohol. It’s odd how nature has built in mechanisms for both self-preservation and self-destruction. I guess it’s all part of the great balance. A few days ago, I visited the local fish shop. My friend, the hunchbacked fishmonger, was there. I told him how delicious the mussels where I bought from him a month or so ago. He was pleased and welcomed me to order from him again. Instead of shellfish, I wanted salmon. That is my favorite fish. A Japanese guy made fun of me once for liking salmon. He said, “Do you REALLY like sushi? I bet you go to the sushi shop and order all salmon and tuna.” He was partially right. I order mostly salmon, tuna, scallops, and eel. The rest is ok. I could take it or leave it. The salmon I bought at the fish shop was for my signature dish Salmone da Marcello, which is a faux Italian name I made up for a faux Italian dish I created. It has lots of fresh tomatoes, olives, onions, garlic, capers, red bell peppers, zucchini, and salmon. My fish craving was satisfied for a while. I don’t know why but just now I suddenly thought of two things. The first thought was of Anthony Bourdain. I wondered what his favorite fish dish was. The second thought was of The Incredible Mr. Limpet and whether he lived out his days as a fish or ended up as someone’s signature dish.