From Deep Pacific, Ugly and Tasty, With a Catch

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

Source: NYT

By WILLIAM J. BROAD
The answer to the eternal mystery of what makes up a Filet-O-Fish sandwich turns out to involve an ugly creature from the sunless depths of the Pacific, whose bounty, it seems, is not limitless.

The world’s insatiable appetite for fish, with its disastrous effects on populations of favorites like red snapper, monkfish and tuna, has driven commercial fleets to deeper waters in search of creatures unlikely to star on the Food Network.

One of the most popular is the hoki, or whiptail, a bug-eyed specimen found far down in the waters around New Zealand and transformed into a major export. McDonald’s alone at one time used roughly 15 million pounds of it each year.

The hoki may be exceedingly unattractive, but when its flesh reaches the consumer it’s just fish — cut into filets and sticks or rolled into sushi — moist, slightly sweet and very tasty. Better yet, the hoki fishery was thought to be sustainable, providing New Zealand with a reliable major export for years to come.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/science/10fish.html?no_interstitial

[SouthernDemInAtl]

1. OK, I really didn't need to know all that....

...since I just ate 2 Filet-O-Fish sandwiches at lunch.

[Craftsman]

2. 3 words, farm raised catfish.

[DoBotherMe]

5. Yummy!

[4lbs]

4. Then you just ate some of this....

Yumm!!!!!

[closeupready]

12. Give me some of these to go with, and I'll be happy

Oh, and with a slice of lemon and some hot sauce... :mmmm:

[bc3000]

3. I don't think it's that ugly

It looks like a fish

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

9. Exactly. nt

[onehandle]

6. When I think of the 'Filet-O-Fish,' I think of the Simpsons episode where Homer is trying to...

...fatten up so much that he gets workman's comp and to be able to work from home.

He and Bart are feeding Homer at Krusty Burger. Homer waves the fish sandwich away claiming it's not unhealthy enough.

Bart rubs it on the wall, which becomes transparent because of the grease.

Anyone who thinks a 'Filet-O-Fish' sandwich is healthy for the tiny amount of fish it contains is fooling themselves.

[pattmarty]

7. FUCK!!!!!!!!!! That is one of the few things I eat at Mcd's. Although, I still................

...............maintain their coffee is awesome.

[theblasmo]

8. True

The F-O-F is one of the few things I eat at McD's, although I tried the Angus Mushroom burger, and they seemed to have "cooked" it, as opposed to "heating" it. Not bad. I always thought it was primarily shark. Isn't that what Long John Silver's uses?

[pattmarty]

10. I don't want to talk about it!!!! Uggghhhhhhh!!!!!

:sarcasm:

[LeftyMom]

14. The "fish" in fish and chips is usually the flesh of the porbeagle shark.

[theblasmo]

15. Thanks! n/t

[TankLV]

11. Not ugly at all - looks just like a typical FISH...

non fucking issue here...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

13. I could give a shit about the fish's looks. I don't know why it's even mentioned. nt