B & M Seafoods

AlexWoods

Good quality produce comes at a price.... 16th March 2009

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While I appreciate that feeling ripped off is not a recommendation, I feel that sjt is being a little harsh on B&M Seafood (and has every right to be so!)

We are, however, both agreed that the quality of the produce is top drawer. I went on Saturday as part of a recon mission, and was so impressed at how delicious and fresh the fish looked that I purchased a mackerel for my lunch and a red gurnard for myself and "The Dorris", as she loathes to be called, for Sunday evening.

The mackerel was so bright eyed I could imagine the beautiful tiger-striped beasty was but playing a trick on me and waiting to spring up at any moment and make a bid for freedom. Simple treatment (baked on a bed of bay leaves, parboiled potatoes, lemon and shallots - DELICIOUS!), one of the tastiest mackerel I've had since the last time I went fishing for them myself.

The gurnard was of similarly high quality. If you have not yet indulged in the delights of gurnard I urge you to do so! Many older cook books describe it as "insipid", "bitter", and many discount it as not being worth eating at all. This is nonsense. It's firm, white, meaty flesh is very tasty indeed and stands up well to pot-roasting, addition to stews and soups, and bakes very well wrapped in pancetta or streaky bacon, much like monk fish. With an anchovy butter or slightly piquant parsley sauce, it is rapidly becoming one of my favourite fish. This is rapidly becoming an essay rather than a review. Back to the point.

The fish were delicious, the monger knowledgeable, amiable and cooperative. I asked if he had any off cuts I could use for stock and walked out with 4 bright, fresh sea bass carcasses and heads.

Now, one can pay less than £8 for a mackerel and a gurnard, but both fish were large enough to produce two generous meals. Bearing this in mind along with the quality of the fish and service, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this place, and do not begrudge paying the £8 I parted with.

B&M are not just fishmongers but butchers also. The range of meat was impressive, though stock slightly depleted by a Saturday afternoon, and looked very delicious indeed. I asked about ordering a joint for Easter Sunday and was assured that there would be not need as meat is delivered every Friday, but they would make sure there was a shoulder of lamb set aside for me. That kind of service is what makes me smile.

All in all, it isn’t cheap. Certainly not as cheap as your local supermarket (which doesn’t really break my heart!) but you get what you pay for, and more.

sokratis at 16/03/09

ah thanks for that. I live close by, but haven't tried them yet.
The portugeuese place at the corner of Kentish town road and prince of wales road has some pretty decent frozen fish as well. Can't compare with fresh produce, but it's an economic alternative that works if you're cooking the right thing.

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sjt_

They'll try to rip you off... 25th July 2008

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I was really pleased to discover this small fishmonger, and having read the blurb on here was impressed enough to try it; I really appreciate great food, and try to shop in small shops rather than supermarkets where possible. I picked up some oysters the other day which were really great - nice and plump, and lovely flavour to them.

My flatmate, who isn't as confident buying food, wanted to cook a great meal for someone - I suggested that he go to B & M to get some really good fish; I said that he should take advice from them on what to buy, and tell them what he wanted to do. This is the advantage of fishmongers over supermarkets.

He settled on some fillets of sea bass, asking for three fillets - there were four out on display. The fishmonger asked him if he would like to take all four for £15; he thought a bit, but decided that no, he would stick with the three - which were rung up, coming to £8.37. The guy had clearly thought that, towards the end of a friday afternoon, he'd try to shift what he had left, and added a few quid on, knowing that my flatmate probably wouldn't have a clue what it should come to.

When he got back and told me this story, I was really shocked that a small shop like this would try to take advantage of someone looking for advice. Having recommended the place to him, I'm particularly annoyed - however good their oysters, I certainly won't be going back for anything, and having been so impressed initially that I would instantly recommend them, I now would dissuade people from shopping there, for the risk of being ripped off.

Pathetic.