Shad is spawning

[Thomas]

All the way up the East Coast, the large, toothy shad is spawning. This past week, they made it to the Hudson River and I had game-rich shad roe two nights in a row.

Crushed pepper, light flour dusting, followed by a light saute in olive oil, garlic and Meyer lemon.

Served the first night with roasted potatoes and ginger/soy broccoli. The second night with turmeric rice mixed with wilted kale and spinach, onion, garlic, and chopped sweet red pepper.

The first night: a light-bodied, peppery Cabernet Franc, Anjou. A perfect match.

Second night: a Rosso Piceno. Almost as good a pairing, but not quite.

[winoweenie]

Do you lightly pan-fry them or are they prepared in Tomassos' secret unbrideled way? WW

[Drew]

The season is closed this year in Maryland.

[Thomas]

WW,

Lightly all the way--they are eggs, don't want to over cook them.

Drew,

That happened last year in New York. I wonder if this is some sort of shad population control.

On my blog I referred to shad roe and Maryland blue crab as part of the world's wonders. Fresh blue crabs are among the two things I miss regarding my three-plus years living in Maryland.

[Drew]

Ok, years ago in the late 60's during one particular spring/summer, I drove almost daily to the Susquhanna River when the shad spawned to fish. If you've never experienced fishing shad while they spawn it's amazing. Using small shad darts as bait you would catch a Hickory every other cast. The Hickory's are very boney and not good to eat but if you caught a female loaded with eggs, now that was a different thing. Had a great aunt who loved me when I visited with shad roe.

Drew

[Thomas]

Drew,

If you can find it, scour the Internet for an article about shad fishing by John McPhee. Marvelous.

I remember as a child whenever I heard the words in the Cole Porter song, Let's Do It "Why ask if shad do it? Waiter, bring me shad roe!" I wondered...

Now I know.