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Liketoeat 17 years, 6 months ago.
Rusty246 – Thank you so much for your so interesting and informative posts. You really made my day to read that Cedar Key has not fallen total victim to modernization, for there years ago it was such a charming & unique place, which would be even more so today. Lets just hope & pray that development stops at its current stage. I know all the arguments for development, but surely Florida & the US can somehow get by with one spot basically untouched by the modern world. Thanks for info on restaurants and will be looking forward to your mullet dip recipe plus any of the salad recipes you can come up with (tho doubt I could get around here the necessary ingredients; hopefully others on this forum could). You didn’t mention it, so assume the big old hotel is gone, but just everything you had to say sounded totally delightful. Again, you guys are lucky to be in the area. Do enjoy it & keep us informed of any Cedar Key developments, hopefully the developments being continued lack of development.
Mayhaw and Sundancer, I’ve read of those leaping carp and also saw some tv feature re them. Seems like article I read mentioned their being in or headed for this area, but I’ve not seen any or heard of anyone who has & have not read/seen anymore about them, so maybe they aren’t here yet. I knew all about their purpose and escaping from catfish ponds, but I did not realize they were so large and potentially dangerous to fishermen. Am sure that is one sight to see!
Mayhaw: I saw a TV job on those leaping carp. It was a blast to see the boats cruising and the carp jumping. Some of them landed in the boat.
Apparently they are numerous as this segment could not have been planted and they were leaping everywhere close to the boat. Must be the vibration that is getting good to them[:D][:D][:D]
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN
Liketoeat-Speaking of freshwater fish, have you ween any of those CHinese Carp up in your part of the delta? Had my first experience with them recently on the Boeuf River in West Carroll Parish. They came leaping up out of the water when they get close to a boat. The commercial guys (there, friends, is a really hardscrabble way to make a living, catching catfish, gar, gaspergou, and buffalo in a gill net to sell) have had to build cages around their cockpits in order to cruise at night, if one flies up and you run into it it could knock you out or knock you out of the boat. They kept running into the things. Apparently they got out of some of those catfish ponds up in Belzonia during a flood (the fish are vegetarians and are used to keep grass down in the ponds) and have spread all down the lower Mississippi. Nothing happened to us, but it is a hell of a thing to see all of those big (10-25lb.) fish break the water in the middle of a muddy flat river while you are passing by at 50 plus mph.[:0]
Liketoeat: The 3rd restaurant is "The Brown Pelican". I knew had something to do with a color.
Liketoeat: Just found your post in the "Where Should I Eat" forum, and I’m actually quite proud of myself! I’ve never ventured there before. Anyway, I don’t actually live in Cedar Key, but, I’m only 30 minutes away, and it’s the most relaxing 30 minute drive! I just love it. The restaurants you’re speaking of are: "The Captain’s Table", "Seabreeze On The Dock"(this one is so neat, you can look out of the front of the restaurant windows and see what is actully left of the owners house after one of our big storms, looks like an old boat house because it’s in the water), and the third is "Brown’s" I believe. That’s where the dip recipe came from. You’re probably right about the salad coming from "Seabreeze", that’s where I like to eat best, and will see what I can find out for you regarding the salad. We we’re actually there about 3 weeks ago, just walking the streets and hanging out. There is a fish bait/open air market over there that makes an awesome cuban sandwich, the bread is what makes a cuban to me. Cedar Key is pretty much still unspoiled, quiet, and many people just go to walk the pier and see who’s catching what. My husband and I found some really neat cabins over there that you can rent that are quiet and clean. There is one B&B and two condo buildings, one has a pool. They need to stop development right there! It’s still quaint and enjoyable though. They’ve adopted the "open container" law, so if you drink, you stay in the restaurants. Art festival in the spring, seafood festival in the fall….actually they’re pretty much the same thing except the art festival has a little more art. The night life is enjoyable, no big crowds just good music. Now, about that salad! Iknow I’ve seen it before somewhere. Let me put my thinkin’ cap on!
Rusty246, will surely be looking forward to seeing tomorrow’s post of your smoked mullet dip recipe. Also surely good to see that your home is Cedar Key, one of the favorite spots I’ve ever visited, but unfortunatley have not been there in years, 20 or longer. Am sure that everything is greatly changed from last time there, but surely would like to hear how it has evolved. If you have a minute sometime, would you please review my 8/8/03 post re Cedar Key under topic "How About the Gulf Coast" and now found on page 2 of the "Where Should I Eat" forum. Would be great to hear of all the changes in Cedar Key and what it’s like now. Also would be great it you could share with us more definitive info, and hopefully maybe even a recipe, for the delicious heart-of-palm salads which I attempted to describe. Thanks. You are lucky to reside in that area.
Rusty246, will be great to get your smoked mullet dip recipe tomorrow. Also its surely good to read that you are from Cedar Key, one of the most favorite spots I’ve ever visited, but unfortunately have not been there in years, 20 or longer. Am sure that it is greatly changed now, but sometime, if you would have a minute, if you’d read my 8/8/03 post re Cedar Key (in subject "How About the Gulf Coast" and now located of 2nd page of "Where Should I Eat" forum), I’d surely enjoy hearing of all the changes which have occurred since time I was there, and also, can you provide any more info on or actual recipe for those delicious heart-of-palm salads I was trying to describe. Big Thanks.
I have an excellent recipe for dip that I will post tomorrow. I’m sure it’s just as good with any smoked fish. It comes from a restaurant here in Cedar Key FL. Very easy to make. Deboning the fish is somewhat time consuming but well worth it. I know mayo, buttermilk, good seasons italian(dry)dressing mix, the fish of course(5), are the main ingredients. Just not sure of the increments.
Rusty246 and Mayhaw, thanks for the more mullet information. As mentioned, I was never a salt water fisherman, but I somehow thought some individuals caught as well as netted them, but I must have been wrong about that. Their being vegetarians ties right in with your comment, Mayhaw, about cleaning them. Also, I did not know that there were fresh water versions. I’d also forgotten about the mullet dip which reminds me of this catfish pate which a firm over in Mississippi does quite a business with. It’s good, but relatively expensive. You can not only have great fun reminiscing on these forums, but as several folks have said, its amazing how much you can learn. Thanks.
Well, if you attend a mullet toss in on the Florida Alabama line (and I mean on, state line runs through the bar) you will see plenty of mullets. Many of the athletes in the mullet toss sport that much maligned hairstyle. Come to think of it, the mullet (both the hair and the fish)is still very popular along the Gulf coast from Waveland to Destin with the Natives. I think that they think it keeps you from getting your neck red. They are wrong[:D](I mean this is in the nicest possible way, of course[:)])
Got to for all of your mullet news[;)]:
We have PLENTY of mullet here, both fresh water and salt water. We camp often at several different springs and they come so close you can almost touch them. My Father used to go out in the intracoastal water way(salt)and net them by the dozens. He’d put them on ice for the night, then the next day he’d clean them, split them in half, then layer them meat side up, salt and pepper each layer, then cover with ice. He’d take them home and put them on racks in a smoker he made out of an old fridge. That was some good stuff! Smoked mullet dip is excellent too, a little rich, but tasty. From what I understand they are vegetarians, and unable to be caught with a hook because their lips are very thin and will tear should you even get remotely close to catching one. Also, it isn’t easy trying to keep a piece of water vegetation on a hook.
I thought a mullet was a hairstyle or is that just somebody wearing a dead fish on their head??[:D][}:)]
Mayhaw, I’d completely forgotten about the smoked mullet. And, yes, I have indeed attended that world class sporting event, the Mullettoss at the Florabama. You’ve well described it all with your last remark.
I like mullet, grilled or smoked. I think the reason that most people don’t like them is that when you gut them, they are kind of gross. Lot’s of green goo to wash away.
But as for the meat, it is firm and cooks to kind of a dark color. They are easy to catch in a cast net. We used to catch em by the net full on the bay behind Dauphin Island.
Liketoeat,
Ever been to the Mullettoss @the Florabama? There is a sporting event that everyone can get behind! Throwing a small fish as far as you can generating cheers and admiration from the crowd of wellwishers. A classy event for a classy place.
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