Fish Bowls for Lent - Green Grape Report Returns
There was a narrow margin separating the two best Lenten fish sandwiches last year.
Uptown Deli and Brew was the best fried fish sandwich, but North High Brewing’s grilled salmon sandwich was so unique among the offerings that it was chosen the best.
So, when it came time for Lenten fish reviews this year, I started with BiBiBop’s salmon bowl.
This review is fair only to me, as I chose to have my salmon wedge served on purple rice with broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, and teriyaki sauce.
One of the pleasures of restaurants like BiBiBop, Agape, and Chipotle is the ability to choose what you want to complement your protein. For me, I went simple.
The purple rice was chosen because it was higher in protein than the other three rice choices, and I thought it would look better in the photo.
Broccoli, because it’s green.
The cucumbers and carrots were cool complements to the other ingredients and offered a gentle palate rinse, allowing the salmon to show off its flavor and texture without interruption.
I wondered what the result would be for the salmon, as it was precooked, sitting with two other pieces on a small griddle at the center of the serving line. Cooking fish on a griddle while keeping it moist is difficult because fish cooks very quickly. The direct heat of the griddle could have quickly turned flaky fish into a tough, rubbery, and dry failure.
This salmon wasn't perfect, but it was flavorful and easily broke into small portions. The charred edges aren't something I usually do with the salmon I cook, but this gave an extra taste opportunity worth exploring for myself.
I chose teriyaki as the sauce. What at first seemed like a large amount squeezed from the bottle turned out to be perfect, as it quickly settled at the bottom of the bowl, where it adds a sweetness to the rice.
This is a meal I would try again with different sides. Except for the Kimchi salad.
There is a 20% discount on Friday during Lent.
The Green Grape Report
Food Review by Gary Gardiner
Meijer - Polaris Parkway
Price – $1.97 a pound.
PLU Code – 4022
The Review
It’s safe to go back to the grocery store to buy grapes.
Peru’s green grapes are at the largest, firmest, and sweetest stage of the season. I’d put off buying and reporting on green grapes because they weren’t very satisfying. Occasionally, I would get a stem that satisfied all three criteria, but the other stems in the bags failed. Especially the sweet part.
Even the August Crisp grapes, available this week at Market District in two-pound clamshells with a buy-one-get-one offer at $6.98 for both, are finally sweet. It’s rare they fail the sweetness test, but lately, they’ve been ordinary.
The grapes from Meijer with the standard 4022 PLU number are outstanding, far sweeter than the August Crisp.
The other sweet grape this Sunday was at Walmart. Again, with a 4022 PLU code and $1.97 a pound price, but in a more distinctive bag proclaiming “Premium Green Grapes - Sweet and Crunchy,” with the brand name Amazzing and the tagline “The Extraordinary Taste.”
They are super crisp and firm but not as sweet as Meijer.
Peruvian grapes are nearing the end of their season, with Chilean grapes soon to appear on store shelves. Expect a significantly different grape from Chile as Peru has expanded its market with newer varieties and more acres planted. Chile is in transition, so it's important to check the shelves often to see which variety Chile may offer in March.
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