Want a romantic meal? Have a fish supper!
With all the Valentine’s celebrations, you’d be forgiven for forgetting it’s also Ash Wednesday, says Patrice Harrington
THE candles are lit, the wine is chilling, and you’re all set for a romantic meal with your Valentine.
But wait — what’s that? It’s Ash Wednesday too? If you’re one of the many Irish who still observe the Catholic traditions of the day — by abstaining from meat — you may put those plans for a juicy steak or beef brisket on hold.
Don’t despair though, as you can still enjoy a sumptuous feast with your beloved, using some fine fish.
And thankfully, we have evolved from the days of eating bland white fish with a scoop of spuds. Just ask fishmonger Anne Stephens, from Drogheda, Co. Louth, who has just become the first woman to win the Bord Iascaigh Mhara Young Fishmonger Award 2018.
The former beauty therapist, who traded brushes for fins, will be rolling up her sleeves today alongside her husband George (who won the same award in 2016), on the busiest day of the fishmonger year.
The pair now own three fish shops — The Fish Market in Blanchardstown, one in Maynooth, and another in Mullingar, where they live with their two children, Louise, who turns eight on Saturday, and fiveyear-old Georgie.
Anne was still working as a beautician when she met George, a trained chef who has worked with Derry Clarke and Kevin Thornton.
‘I had previously worked in the hospitality industry before I trained as a beautician,’ Anne says. ‘George and I wanted to run a business that enabled us to work in Mullingar. So we struck on the idea of opening a fishmonger’s.’
Anne is now top of her profession, having scooped the award after a gruelling judging process. And as well as encouraging more women into the trade, she also wants to help more people realise just how delicious fish can be — and how easy it is to cook.
‘I love meeting new people every day so that side of things comes easy to me,’ Anne says. ‘And on the fish side it is so good for you and easy to work with. You can make so many nice things from it and it is so easy to cook. For example a roast dinner would take hours to cook whereas fish only takes a few minutes. It can help people to make fresh and interesting food that’s good for them — healthy, fast food, as I like to call it.’
Anne has since developed glutenfree products and a healthy convenience range, and is passionate about encouraging people to eat fish as part of a healthy diet.
Tonight she’ll will be dining on fish with George and wants to helping us all cook a romantic meal. Here, she shares just two of her favourite recipes, which are not just familyfriendly, but heart-healthy too — perfect for Valentine’s Day!
‘Fish is so good for you and very easy to work with — it’s healthy, fast food’