HEALTHY AT HOME
CATCH OF THE DAY
Scallops FOR ALL SEASONS
BY TRACY STUART
MEDALLING WITH MY FOOD Tracy is an Olympic medallist and has a Chef’s diploma from the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts.
O
ne of the things that excited me most about moving to River John, was the ability to grow our own food in a little country garden. I soon discovered that if I used a larger lens, I could see there was much more potential for amazing fresh food just beyond our garden. In fact, a whole world of wild, freshly caught fish was minutes away in John Bay, with teams of fisherman working the seasons like clockwork to bring us tasty delights all year. Being a newcomer, I had to learn what was in season at what time of year. The Northumberland Strait is unique (like all fishing zones), and the fresh catch is always changing. Luckily, I can rely on the locals to keep me apprised as to “what is what and who is who” in the fishing world. One of my favourite stories to tell my friends from away is one that could only happen in a small town, and it is the story that inspired this dish that has become a family and friends’ favourite.
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ah! Spring 2022
And so, the story goes: One day in early May, the sun was shining with good intensity, and John Bay was sparkling. It felt like a Sauvignon Blanc kind of day. I was done with the heavy red wines of winter and was ready for a crisp, tangy, refreshing white wine. So, I headed down to the NSLC to see what they had to fit the bill. The liquor store overlooks the bay, so I couldn’t help but wonder what the boats would be hauling into the dock that day. So naturally, after my usual greetings, I asked Peter, the manager at the time, what was in season. Without hesitation he proclaimed that scallops were the catch of the day. When I asked where I could get my hands on some, almost if by cue, the store door opened and a local fisherman entered the building. Peter says, “That guy should be able to help you.” He froze like a deer in headlights as we both stared in his direction. I explained that I’d come for a nice white wine for dinner;
At Home on the North Shore
