ESCOLAR INTERLOCUTORS:
Something quite wrong here, or at least the subject of continuing mis-identification. I have been selling "escolar" for years, like 10 years, in fact, a few thousand lbs a week, without so much as a single incident. This harks back, in all likelihood, to the confusion between the so-called smooth skin and "pineapple" skin escolars(respectively,Lepidocybium flavobrunneum and Ruvettus pretiosus). I have seen these fish referred to separately as Escolar and "Oilfish", but then they also both get referred to as oilfish. It seems clear, however, that the culprit is this pretiosus puppy, and frankly I wouldn't get within barking distance of a piece of "frozen fillet of escolar" as it is in just such a manner that an on-board processor might negligently or ignorantly strip the lacerative skin off the offending oilfish and send it heading for your plate. You would be able to rest fairly assured that your local dealer would not lightly risk the hands of its' cutters let alone its' reputation by even taking Ruvetus out of a box. You'd have to see this skin to believe it. Very dangerous. At any rate, please be assured that Lepid.spp offers a harmless and pleasant eating experience. Just make sure that that is what you're getting.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Feb 05 2002 - 08:01:45 PST