The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-12
1--WE FISH DELICACY.
..o NEW DISH IN SAN FRANCIS
s"' : CHINESE RESTAURANTS.

t.aA
..ar Poured In Its Eyes - Served
,r,,n a Thick Brown Sauce.
80 81 the most select of the China
gun" rounders in San Francisco have
p~n .reated during the last few weeks
po'' hrand new delicacy. According to
70 earnest opinion, it is a wonder and
'n NC ahead of the kindred delicacies OF
way .y,S nest soup, sharks fin, picked
~, Mcbee nuts, preserved eggs and similar
cOmtts. ,.oa howover that this
.n delicacy, while strange to the white
u o,rons has been popular in China for
matter of 1000 years or SO. AT any
the Chinese patrons of the amaz-
ia'' d;sb seem to know and reverence it,
We nS 20 all intents and purposes it is
a su;led by them as the average American
uams down to the subtle terrapin.
simply described, the dish is no more
:. loss than raw, live fish. Usually it
vnnears TO be some species resembling
,be salmon trout, but on occasions 1T APP
,oors similar to the rocktish. If the
rrL;nose chefs are to be believed, these
s.h ara brought alive from China in
.nhO and this statement is in measure
.0rroborated by the statement OF local
ssb men, who say the fish are unlike
ANYTHING found in America.
Il is only the favored few of the white
rotrons that have had the opportunity
n sample this new tGnty. Others that
have asked to have it served have been
received with that blank expression used
Nv the willy Mongolians to confuse the
wbite barbarians. But the favored ones
that have tasted it say it is good, even
delicious
It requires at least a days notice to
obtain the new dainty, for not even the
regular Chinese patrons can get it Off
hand. Then when the dish is ready to
he served the patron is notified to pre-
sent himself at the restaurant.
Asa preliminary the guest or guests sit
down to preliminary dinner of the usual
birds nest soup order. Then, when this
is cleared away, the servants bring in,
with much ceremony, tub of clear salt
water. In this the fish is swimming
about, alive and lively.
Having presented the tub before the
guests, the chief attendant, with a dex-
trous hand, grasps the fish by the gills
and lifts it from the water. Laying it
upon long teakwood board, he takes
from another servant thin, curved steel
knife, sharp pointed and as sharp as a
razor. Turning the fish SO that the back
Of the head lies between the thumb and
forefnger of his left hand, he inserts
the knife with a quick upward move
ment under the dorsal fin.
Instantly the fish ceases it's struggles,
and with another deft stroke the knife
is run along its back, laying bare the
spine and the ends of the ribs. Turning
the fish, first upon one side and then
upon the other, the head man makes in
cisions from the gills clear back to the
TAIL This done, he bends the head and
tail together, and with barbed skewer
fastens them. At this point another SER
want hands the carver vial of strong
Chinese vinegar.
Decanting the fluid so that a single
drop hangs from the lip of the vial, he
taps it gently SO that the single drop
falls into the eye of the fish.
A single mighty convulsion immedi-
ately seizes it. With one writhing shud-
der 1t turns over on it's back, the flesh
falling on one side and the entire skele-
ton of the fish on the other. Then the
head servant claps his hands, the serv.
ants remove the bones and viscera, and
with a few more quick movements OF
the knife the fish is sliced into conven-
lent portions.
After the quivering flesh has been
placed upon plates the servants pour q
thick brown sauce upon it, and, still
quiyering, the fish is passed to the
guests.
Those that have tasted it say that the
brown sauce thoroughly DISCUSSES the
hsny taste and at the same time removes
'he repugnance that one might feel al
eating raw fish. Some of the more ar.
dent admirers of the Chinese cuisine
say they can readily understand why the
Ohinese hold the dish in such reverence,
out others less enthusiastic say they Car
see nothing better in it than underdont
COO or half broiled mackerel.
A lew days ago one of San Francis
COS society women thought she would
10 the honors to friend from New
iork by giving one of these fish din
ners' The affair, however, was not {
success for both the New York woman
ana her unmarried sister became death
" III during the preliminary cere
monies, and before the dish was served
were Obliged to rise and hurriedly leav,
'ne restaurant. 1t can be imagined wha
.ne disgust of the Chinese chef was a
w unis instance of American barbarism
Inc Others, however, remained and at,
'ne tsh. New York World.
TI..