Monday, September 21, 2015

Gefilte Jellyfish

COURTESY OF NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC (REALLY!)
It looks like "summer season" has come to an end in Fuengirola. The flags (banderas) are no longer flying along the beach to announce safe surf (green flag), risky (yellow), or dangerous (red).

With July being unusually warm and muggy, jellyfish (medusas) were in abundance. So a flag was added to warn swimmers of the risk. I went for a long walk on the beach yesterday and found myself side-stepping jellyfish most of the way. Many beach-goers were collecting them and tossing them in the trash.

One woman was filling a plate with a half-dozen at a time. It reminded me of a plate of gefilte fish* — which, in my opinion, is not a good thing. (My grandmother used to make 'fresh' gefilte fish and put it in her own jars. It was beyond disgusting  — In my humble opinion.)

I jokingly asked the woman with the plate of jellyfish if she was planning to cook them. I was grateful when she laughed and said she really didn't think so. She then unceremoniously dumped them in the trash bin and went back to collect more.

Click the images for a closer look.

FROM OUR TERRACE: CAUTION FLAG AND JELLYFISH (MEDUSA) FLAG.
I MIRRORED THE IMAGE  — THE WIND WAS BLOWING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!
MY FIRST CLOSE ENCOUNTER ON SUNDAY. 
MANY BEACH-GOERS WERE COLLECTING (AND DISPOSING OF) THE THREAT.
A YOUNG FATHER WAS PICKING THEM UP SAFELY BY THEIR HEADS.
I STILL WOULDN'T RISK IT.
AN ODDLY SAFE BIT OF BEACH.
THE CURRENTS ARE FASCINATING.
THE FOAMY SURF, MID-AIR.

*Gefilte Fish: 
Fish fillets are ground with eggs, onion, bread or matzo crumbs, and spices to produce a paste or dough which is then boiled in fish stock. It is popularly (don't ask me why) served with a fish-broth jelly! To me, it would be like eating jellyfish... Except for the poison.

I found the gefilte fish photo at National Geographic (click here). The author of the article, Virginia Hughes, described gefilte fish as a "flaccid culinary specimen" that looks like "brown-gray gelatinous lumps." I think she was being kind.

33 comments:

  1. I never knew was Gefilte Fish was until now! All these years that I have heard that term, and never knew what it was :) The French make a dish called Quenelles that is kind of a ground fish dumpling in a sauce... I think that people love them, though... soundsl ike your description of Gefilte Fish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judy:
      I think every culture has something similar. And a lot of people love them. I've had Norwegian fish balls and like them slightly more than gefilte fish.

      Delete
    2. But what about lutefisk???

      Delete
  2. I've never tasted gefilte fish.... But your post reminds me of trying lutefisk when we lived in North Dakota..... Bet San Geraldo loves that ;-)

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    Replies
    1. Sharon:
      Jerry had lutefisk in Norway for the first time about 10 years ago. For the last time, too! (I tasted it and decided I hated gefilte fish less.)

      Delete
  3. I'm not sure which is more frightening, jelly fish or gefilte fish....

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    1. Jacqueline:
      Well, at least gefilte fish doesn't sting.

      Delete
  4. Gefilte has to taste better than it looks! Right? Probably full of nutritious things too. But I am a person that likes texture when I eat something and this just doesn't look like something I would even try.
    Those jellyfish must leave quite a welt, do they, Mitchell?

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    Replies
    1. Jim:
      Many people love gefilte fish. And, yes, depending on one's sensitivity, those jellyfish can do some damage.

      Delete
  5. Wildlife....
    Cant be doing with it in sunny climes

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  6. Do these jelly fish sting? I know some are poisonous.

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    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      The jellyfish pictured do sting. And the reaction depends on your sensitivity. It can be pretty awful.

      Delete
  7. Ah, no place is perfect! Although hubby and I just got back from what had to be a perfect week in Provincetown - absolutely perfect weather, no flies, no jellyfish, no gefilte fish either.

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  8. Wow! Like others, I had heard of gefilte fish, but didn't know what it was. I'm not sure I want to experience it any further! If it's placed before me one of these days for some reason, I guess I'll go for it. I just don't think I'll seek it out!

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    Replies
    1. Michelle:
      To be fair, a lot of people love it. It's nothing like Norway's lutefisk.

      Delete
  9. I wonder if you could deep fry gefilte fish? Surely that would make them good ...

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  10. I was never sure what gefilte fish was either. When my grandson Allen was 10, we were in Madison WI and ate at Ella's Deli (hope you've been there). When the waitress took Allen's order, he ordered the "gee-felt" fish. The waitress laughed and asked him if he knew what it was. She said it's mostly old people who order that. Allen changed his mind.

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    1. Ms Sparrow:
      I have never been to Madison! And, although I'm probably what that waitress would now call "old," I wouldn't order the gee-felt fish either.

      Delete
  11. definitely autumn is coming

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    Replies
    1. Gosia:
      We've been experiencing summer all over again. But without all the extra people!

      Delete
  12. Oye! what is the matter with you. Gefilte Fish is wonderful and your dear grandmother use to make them, how nice. I think gefilte fish is pretty nice in my humble opinion. LOL!

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    1. Laurent:
      You and a lot of other people love it. I just have better taste.

      Delete
  13. Now I will probably never get to discover the wonderful delight that is Gefilte Fish after that description (*no worries - I really don't like fish so wouldn't have tried it anyway) :)

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    1. Cheapchick:
      If you don't like fish, I can't imagine you'd like this. But don't pass up the opportunity just because of me. It's much better, anyway, when smothered in horseradish.

      Delete
  14. Bob:
    I never did see that movie... "Jellyfish on a Plane."

    ReplyDelete
  15. for your entertainment and pleasure -

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu_ijC8HFRU

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spo:
      Thanks for this link. Truly fascinating. Lots of great information. And I'm so glad to now know about nematocyst discharge... and that having someone pee on me could cause more harm than good.

      Delete
  16. Whacky little things, jellyfish! I guess sea turtles like them.
    I tried gefilte fish at a Bat Mitzvah brunch.... NO THANKS! :)

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    Replies
    1. Knatolee:
      You should have heard the lecture I got from the Dowager Duchess about this post. "Gefilte fish is delicious!" she said, "Especially my mother's! How could you write that?"

      Delete

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