It’s a rare day today, a rare day indeed! I hardly ever write weekend columns, especially Sunday columns, but today I wanted to share a couple of things, and also offer my thanks to a friend.
Yesterday, I was sitting here in my office putting the last touches on a project that I was working on, and I got a text from Feyma:
Cheryll Ann says: “Short notice I know, but I just got back from the market and bought fat crabs. Want to come help me eat them for lunch?
Well, eating crabs is a tough way to spend a Saturday, but you know, when a friend is in need, I wouldn’t feel right not offering my helping hand! I mean, it’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it, right?
So, off we went to lunch with our friend (who often comments on this site), Cheryll Ann. Cheryll Ann is a really nice lady who lives here in Davao. We have only met a few times, yet we feel like old friends.
The lunch was wonderful, a veritable Seafood Buffet with several different types of fish, a beef soup, crabs (of course), rice, mussels, and other goodies. What a feast! There were only 4 of us eating, yet I think that there was enough food for a dozen people or more. I’m afraid that as much as we tried, we were unable to help Cheryll much in her quest to finish off those crabs! There were still plenty left over when we finished eating!
The crabs were great! Cheryll cooked them herself, she informed us, and I could tell for certain that it was not her first time to cook crabs! I don’t know how many crabs there were to start out with, but there were a lot. I told Cheryll that she probably wouldn’t be inviting us over again in the future, because I was being very “bastos.” She asked me in what way? I said that I was a bad boy because I was sitting there eating crab claw after crab claw, the meatiest part of the crab. Leave all the small stuff for the other guys… I stuck with the claws, and I ate more than just a few! They were absolutely delicious!
Sort of the highlight of the day was the “Boy Fish,” a name which Cheryll had supplied for one of the items on the menu. Have a look at “Boy Fish’s” teeth, they are amazing:
So, the fish was called “Boy Fish,” why? Well, I asked Cheryll, “are you sure it’s male?” “Oh,” she replied, “the sex of the fish has nothing to do with it!” “Huh?” I said. “You see,” Cheryll responded, “we used to have a driver named ‘Boy” and his teeth looked just like that, so I call this fish the ‘Boy Fish’.” Ha ha.. OK. The fish was really unique, though. It was huge, 3 kilos! It had really thick, leathery skin. It was fat and round. It looked like something you’d see in an aquarium somewhere. But, indeed it was succulent and tasty! Delicious!
Cheryll Ann, thank you so much for a wonderful lunch, and for a pleasurable day talking and getting to know you better! We really enjoyed it a lot.
Of course, when a friend is in desperate need of eating off the crabs that she bought. We are always happy to assist!
hhmmm we call them brit fish…dont ask !
I don't eat fish so this one would not apply to me. 😆
I didn't do the moderation part
Hi brian – Hmm… brit? ❓
Hi Don – No problem on the fish! It leaves more for me to enjoy! 😆
Wow..lots of nice foods……..Question…so in the Philipines on fish they cook the whole thing { fish with indside's included? }..interesting for sure….I think I will go cook now 😆
Hi Dan – Very nice! Generally, when a fish is cooked, it's the entire fish. That, though, is after the insides have been cleaned. For this fish yesterday (Boy Fish) they cleaned out the guts of the fish, and stuffed that area with vegetables and other items that gave a nice aroma and flavor to the fish. It was delicious!
I am having a bad day 🙄 😥 , Dipsi took a turn for the worse this morning, after I talked to vet yesterday and he assured me Dipsi is better and today his IV comes off.
Well not only is his IV staying he got pumped with even more mes today, poor baby Dipsi!
The article made me laugh though, heheh Yep BOY FISH, he looks like Boy – the teeth anyway, hehehe! 😀
We stil have crabs .I cook crabs often – I just don't kill them myself – EWWW!
Today we are having "nylon" fish, pako salad, maya maya soup, oyster in soysauce but we still have lots of crabs, UGHHH!
I think I will have the help pick meat out of shell and I'll cook it in eggs and cabbage, etc.
I'll see you and Feyma again soon 😀 Had fun with you guys. 😀 Now I am calling the vet UGHHHH!
But what is the real name for the "Boy Fish" When you go to the market I'm sure you don't ask for a boy Fish. 😆
Hi Charyll Ann – Thanks again. Great food, great company! With that combination, you can't go wrong!
Hi Joe Parisi – Ha ha.. you are right, if you go ask for "boy fish" they will look at you kind of funny, I think! However, it seemed that nobody knew the real name of the fish! I was told that if I wanted some, just take the picture to the market and ask for it! I bet that would work! Feel free to print out the photos on this page, if it would help you! Also, if anybody else knows the name, please speak up! 😀
"Boy" Fish is not always available in the market. I mean that day there was only1 of that fish in the whole market.
I like to go to Agdao and look for "interesting" fish.
We always end up eating seafood for a week or so when I go to market.
When I don't go I tell Linda (the retired policewoman you met) what I want and she usually knows what it is.
When I say that small red fish, the flat round fish, etc. She knows what I want coz she goes with me when I go to market and she knows what I call them (never the proper names) hehehehehe.
There even that fish I like to make "sugba" I just say that ugly fish I like for sugba and she comes home with the correct fish, 😉
Oh and it's NOT parrot Fish – that boy fish. But when raw the colors are similar…
Hi Bob, A question – these crabs you ate, are they the same greenish-coloured crabs you see being sold in bundles along the side of the road, or are they a different variety? Just curious, so I know where to look next time.
That fish seems to look like from the Trigger fish family or locally known there as "Pugot". You'll rarely see it on the fish market though.
Hi Rey,yes you are correct,it is a member of the trigger fish family.After 25 years in the fishing industry I have seen many species of this fish,it gets its name from its ability to trigger a large sharp bone on its dorsal fin.
It uses it as a defence mechanism,the sharp bone points forward to stop it being swallowed by larger fish.
Over the past few years more and more are being caught in the south west of the UK,it seems they migrate there so there must be food there that they like.
LEATHERJACKET
The leatherjacket (Novodon convexirostris), or kokiri of the Maoris, is a small rough-skinned fish with a tiny mouth and a triggerlike spine on the back which can be locked into a vertical position at will. This fish resembles brown suede leather, except for the fins which are bright yellow. It is a good food fish and is sold in the Auckland markets in the form of skinned fillets under the name of “cream fish”. The leatherjacket is less than a foot in length and is common in the outer Hauraki Gulf, where it is often seen feeding around seaweed-covered rocks.
Hi BoB ,
something difference.
Today , once again , i was looking your Mindanao Photo blog.
Saw a picture [ from 6 March ] about a hotel in Cagayan.
You asked about the name.
It is the MAXANDREA , located JR Borja St.
Room rates up from 1480 Peso.
Gr.Anton
@ Dan and others wondering abut whole fish.. as Bob said, don't know of fish being cooked complete with innards, but cooking fish otherwise whole, either stuffed or unstuffed, is very common.
Another popular method I only learned of after moved here is to debone the fish and cook it relleno, that i, stuffed with a mixture of the flesh, bread crumbs, spices and whatever. particularly popular in my area for the bangus (milkfish) the 'national fish' of the Philippines … one that I seldom eat otherwise becuase it has an annoying amount of small bones.
Deboned chicken relleno is also a popular item, especally for catered parties … looks like a whole chicked roasted from the outside, but inside, relleno mix and _no_bones_.
For those who don't eat fish, smart move, leaves even more for me … and Bob
Hi Cheryll Ann – You certainly made a good trip to Agdao Market this time, because you had some nice types of seafood!
Hi John in Austria – Hmm… I don't think I've ever seen those green crabs before. The crabs that I see here are usually a dark gray in color when raw, very similar to what I see in the area of the States where I came from (Washington State).
Hi Rey – Ah, you confirmed my suspicion! I said yesterday that I thought that it was from the trigger fish family. I used to have saltwater aquariums, and had triggers, although they were MUCH smaller than "boy fish." Thanks for the confirmation!
Hi John.J. – Wow, I had no idea that triggers went as far north as the UK. I thought they were more of a warm water fish! Interesting.
Hi Preben – Thanks for all the additional info!
Hi Anton – Thanks for the info on the hotel. I'll try to update the Photoblog.
Hi Dave – I never heard of a fish being cooked relleno style! That must be more of a Luzon thing. Actually, I never even saw a Rellenong Manok down here before. Guess what, I cooked Rellenong Manok myself one time in the States, as a treat for Feyma. I even deboned the chicken all by myself – what a job! It turned out perfect, though. Looked just like a roasted whole chicken, but no bones! I enjoy the dish.
Bob,
I saw uncooked renellong bangus in the SM freezer section. YOu should try that. (I'm not sure if it's good though)
It's a friggin nightmare to make, I had to make it in school for H.E. class.
There is a chinese style – renello chicken but it's stuffed iwth rice, it's really good. Sen Ton Whan makes it. It's called 8 treasure chicken or something to that effect , costs 550, very reasonable for the amount of work involved.
Hi Cheryll Ann – Ah, yes, now I recall that I've seen rellenong bangus in the freezer section in some grocery stores. Hey, I might try that chicken at Sen Tong Won, it sounds like it might be good. Thanks for the tip!
Hi Bob,we even get turtles on the west coast of the UK that migrate form the carribean,they come to feed on the vast shoals of jelly fish.
Hi john.j. – Amazing! I had no idea!
That is the freakiest looking fish I have ever seen, sends a chill down my spine with it's human like teeth and what look likes lips. Gotta digg this.
Hi James – It certainly is unique!