In this episode of Fresh Catch, Eater’s weekly live lesson in all things seafood, Adam Geringer-Dunn from Greenpoint Fish and Lobster Co. explains why you shouldn’t ignore the John Dory.
The anatomy of the John Dory is unique, to say the least. These skinny fish may look flat, but they’re technically classified as a round fish because they swim upright and have eyes on both sides of their heads. Their mouth appears small at first, but opens wide into a tube, enabling them to inhale whatever whole fish are in front of them. In the process of cleaning the fish above, Geringer-Dunn discovered two whole butter fish and a small squid in its belly.
The John Dory is fairly mild, so it’s delicious with the caramelized flavors that come from searing. Geringer-Dunn prepared a fast fillet with a hot cast iron pan, butter, olive oil, lemon, and thyme. Good fish has no trouble speaking for itself.
To see this process in action, check out the video above. For more lessons in seafood, head to Eater’s Facebook page Thursdays at 11 a.m. to catch new episodes of Fresh Catch. Each week, Geringer-Dunn will walk live viewers through preparation of a sustainable fish, mollusk, crustacean, or bivalve.
