Filet-O-Fish

WARNING: Vegans and vegetarians (or others) who cannot stand the sight of cutting into fish might not want to read this. Just be happy that I accomplished one of the items on my culinary bucket list and come back tomorrow.

I clearly picked the right time to start working on my Culinary Curriculum (also known as the “Culinary Bucket List” and which now has its own page on the blog—I had to take down my “Love Food. Love Self.” essay because I can’t get everything to line up, but I’ll get right on learning html code once the bucket list is complete…), considering I now conveniently work at a market* surrounded by food enthusiasts who also happen to love teaching you what they know.
*”Grocery store” just doesn’t seem appropriate for the magical wonderland of food that currently employs me.
Thus, I was able to learn from “the master” just how to filet a red snapper.
Well, when I say “learn,” I should say “I watched Rodrigo skillfully perform the task.” (After which he adorably tried numerous times to get the fish to stand up on its own for a photo.)

“And then I tried myself.”

(Wearing a very expensive metal glove that protected me when I was told to “slash [my] hand with a knife to make sure you aren’t afraid of the blade”)*

*I wasn’t. I wasn’t afraid. (I just wasn’t very skillful.)

Rodrigo left me to my own devices (probably too terrified to watch the imminent destruction that was about to ensue), but Kevin–whom you all know as “the co-worker who inspired all this after accusing me of only being able to make hummus and then asked me what kind of knives I use”*–helped me along…
*And yes, I’ll hear about this comment soon…as he does read the blog after all.
…with patience that only slightly makes up for the aforementioned commentary on The Smart Kitchen‘s blog substance (or lack thereof).
But look! One of these is mine and one of these is Kevin’s…and I bet you can’t tell which is which, can you?And if you can…well, it’s not easy filleting a fish in front of the entire seafood department AND the Perishables Director, now is it? [At least they tried to make me feel better by saying they might be able to sell it. LIARS! ALL OF YOU! ]

And yes, I was so excited about the whole experience that I went around and told everyone I could find that I had just filleted my first fish.

[And no, this is actually NOT the same photograph as the one above.
If you look carefully, you'll spot the slight difference in my smile.]

I’m not sure whether they were happy for me, or just shocked that they even let me behind the counter….with a knife.