fish

Coconut’s Fish Café in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Coconut’s Fish Café in Kapaa, Kauai. Anyone who likes coconut shrimp will absolutely flip over this Happy Hour appetizer: Half price Coconut Shrimp with a fiery sweet chili pineapple dipping sauce. A generous portion count of six batter fried fan-tailed shrimp is enough to share or make a substantial meal for one. Don’t judge me. Another winner is the Ahi Poke: raw tuna chunks marinated in soy, garlic, and green onions. Try not to drool. Long story short, if you like to save money and don’t mind a late lunch or early supper, spend more time at the beach and then head over to Coconut’s Fish Café for a great taste of seafood.

One Fish, Two Fish

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Joy of Eating: One Fish, Two Fish! The health benefits of eating tilapia are enough to make you feel like a poet. By choosing a fish that is high in protein and low in calories, why not get creative with a baked and crispy crust? This one has a kick of spice balanced with natural cornmeal and grated cheese. Give it a whirl and pass your comments on to me. I’d love to hear from you.

ONE FISH, TWO FISH

Ingredients:

2 tilapia fillets, boneless and skinless

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup cornmeal

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1/2 cup Jazzy Jerk Sauce*

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°. While the oven is preheating, cover the bottom of an iron skillet with the olive oil. Place skillet in oven while you prepare the breading for the tilapia. Mix together all dry ingredients and spread on a sheet of waxed paper. Pour the Jazzy Jerk Sauce* into a shallow bowl. Dip one fish fillet at a time into the sauce, coating both sides. Once wet, dredge in bread crumb mixture to fully cover both sides. Set aside and repeat for the second fish fillet. Using oven mitts, carefully remove iron skillet from oven. Place fish fillets in pan and return to oven. Bake 8 minutes, gently turn over and bake 4 minutes longer. Do not over cook. Serve with a side of cole slaw.

*Jazzy Jerk Sauce recipe may be found by clicking on the link below.

https://snapshotsincursive.com/2015/10/15

Yum Yum Sauce

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Clean Plate Club: Yum Yum Sauce! Although I got a little creative with the recipe, I’m seriously not making up the name, Yum Yum Sauce. Many of you already know it as the popular condiment found in Japanese hibachi restaurants. With a little tweaking, you now have permission to bathe dinner in it. By pairing it with tilapia fish and adding creamy spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, it literally had me licking my fork after every bite. I suppose you could add a side dish of rice or noodles, but honestly, I never got that far.

YUM YUM SAUCE

Ingredients:

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 teaspoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon agave nectar

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

2-3 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, diced

1 teaspoon corn starch

1 cup heavy cream

10-ounce package frozen creamed spinach

3 tilapia fillets

2 tablespoons Italian-style bread crumbs

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon butter

Instructions:

Combine mayonnaise, melted butter, tomato paste, agave nectar, seasoned salt, and rice vinegar in a bowl. Whisk thoroughly to blend. Fold in sun-dried tomatoes. Whisk together corn starch and heavy cream. Add to sauce. Mix well. Set aside. Microwave creamed spinach according to package directions. Set aside. To prepare tilapia fillets, dust both sides with Italian-style bread crumbs. Warm 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon butter in an iron skillet over medium heat. Fry seasoned fillets until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined platter. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring Yum Yum Sauce to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cook 5 minutes until thickened and heated through, stirring occasionally. Add creamed spinach. Stir well. To serve, spoon enhanced Yum Yum Sauce onto a plate. Top with tilapia fillets.

Dining Outside the Home: Coconut’s Fish Café in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Coconut’s Fish Café in Kapaa, Kauai. Even if you never plan to ride a surfboard, you can still enjoy the spirit of Aloha every time you visit Coconut’s Fish Cafe. Surfboard table tops encourage a “Hang Loose” attitude while filling the room with positive energy and healthy food. Top a mixed green salad with the grilled shrimp duo and a seared plank of blackened ahi, smeared with wasabi sauce. Also, might I suggest the papaya dressing? It’s amazing. All sauces and dressings are made from scratch. Order the coconut shrimp to have beforehand or with the meal. It sets the stage for a fabulous meal.

Dining Outside the Home: The Fish Express in Lihue, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: The Fish Express in Lihue, Kauai! If you’re looking for a quick bite of incredibly fresh fish, spicy ahi, batter-fried butterfly shrimp, or seasoned seafood, make a pit stop at The Fish Express near the Lihue Airport. No matter the time of day, people can be seen standing around outside leaning against the building or sitting in the shade with a styrofoam container propped in one hand and a fork in the other. Once inside the door of this carry-out eatery, you’ll be blown away by the multitude of choices available in the glass showcase. No worries. Try anything that looks yummy. But you better hurry. If you dilly-dally too long, the person beside you might snatch it up. The staff is an old hand at getting people through the line f-a-s-t. Affordable Bento boxes are placed on the edge of the counter near the register as a convenient add-on. Do it. Throw a couple bucks in the Tip Jar. As you’re driving away, don’t be surprised if you find yourself cracking open a container to nibble on its contents. “It’s fresh off da boat.”

Dining Outside the Home: Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips in Las Vegas, Nevada

Dining Outside the Home: Gordon Ramsay Fish ‘n Chips in Las Vegas, Nevada! It’s no shame to be mesmerized while walking along The LINQ Promenade. With al fresco dining, unique shopping, and vibrant lights, it’s easy to get caught up in the flurry of activity. Gordon Ramsay knows that. Perhaps that is the reason he opened a takeaway-style British restaurant, with a simple menu, called Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips. The name says it all. Order battered fish filets accompanied by homemade dipping sauces along with chips, natural or dirty. Thank goodness the line moves quickly, because the aromas are mouth-watering. Grab a seat at the counter for picnic-style dining and dig in. There’s a lot to be said for keeping things simple.

Dining Outside the Home: Payne’s Restaurant in Gas City, Indiana 

Dining Outside the Home: Payne’s Restaurant in Gas City, Indiana! The fact that Payne’s Coffee and Custard is a mere stone’s throw from the childhood home of actor, James Dean, is more than coincidence. The owner, Stephen Payne, is a devoted fan of the iconic 1950s movie star. His British influence is apparent in the bistro’s specialties which include old-fashioned frozen custard (to die for), Indiana craft beers on tap, the best Fish ‘n Chips “this side of the pond”, and gooey Sticky Toffee Pudding. Ingredients are farm-to-table whenever possible. Make Payne’s Restaurant your next small town destination. 

Dining Outside the Home: Petey’s Summertime Seafood in Rye, New Hampshire 

Dining Outside the Home: Petey’s Summertime Seafood in Rye, New Hampshire. The menu said “Award-Winning Clam Chowder”, just the facts sprinkled with a second helping of bragging rights. As the waitress swept by our table, balancing a tray of four steaming bowls of clam chowder surrounded by cracker packets, it left behind an amazing aroma too tempting to resist. First course decided. Next up, an incredible dish known as “Baked Stuffed Lobster Pie ‘n Butter”. When the staff recommends something they eat (often) themselves, prepare to enter Lobster Heaven. It truly does exist.