Monday, April 06, 2009

Fisherman's Market Grill

We managed to get to the Palm Springs location a few days before we left and we really enjoyed the combo plate except for the clam strips which weren't worth eating...I've never tasted a good example of these...are they always just batter? Anyway, the cod, shrimp, and scallops were all good and the calamari was excellent...huge succulent strips. And Singha beer for $2.50...what a deal.

Although restaurant meals seem pretty reasonable for the most part in the desert I am always surprised by the price of food in the grocery stores. There must be price fixing of some kind or perhaps they just don't have all the independent grocers that we have that keep prices down. I also think the Chinatowns in Victoria and Vancouver keep fruit and vegetable prices down. These are the items that seem the most overpriced. This is especially bizarre since this is the heart of the Imperial Valley where fruits and vegetables are produced for the whole country!

I was delighted to arrive home for the first fresh halibut of the season and it was the first thing we ate. I did it my favourite Eric Akis recipe...very simple with chives, lemon, and butter. It's a recipe that really lets the taste of the fish come through. And what a deal at $16 a pound Canadian. Would you believe a few days before Fisherman's Market Grill (they have seafood for sale too) was selling it for $24.95 a pound US!