Hisar....It doesn't do what it says on the tin.

[TJ]

I though Trout was a river fish anyway?

jespermk Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> yes, went there myself with my girlfriend, had a

> trout, although, not typically turkish, it was

> like it had never been swimming in the sea, dryer

> than the sahara and about as tasty as a mouthful

> of its sand.... still, maybe next time, i should

> have something more typically turkish...

[TJ]

Oh, and i understand Hisar is up for sale. Went last weekend. Didn't rate it as highly as i used to.

[Brendan]

I'm pretty certain none of the trout I have ever caught or eaten ever swan in or anywhere near the sea.

Although I will say that I have never had trout from a pub/restaurant, even those that specialise in fish, which has been even remotely palatable. I think it has to be eaten within a few hours of being caught.

[Penguin68]

Actually, I have caught, and eaten, a trout in the sea (actually in a salt-water loch open to the sea) - it is called, unsurprisingly, the sea trout, and is a close relative, some suggest a variety, of the common brown trout.

See link; http://www.atlanticsalmontrust.org/seatrout_facts/seatrout.html

[Brendan]

Well you learn something new everyday.

[TJ]

So if someone sells trout in a restaurant, is it the common brown trout (which is farmed) or a sea trout? And where does the rainbow trout live? And what was on hizars menu?

[david_carnell]

Rainbow trout can be both wild or farmed. In a restaurant, unless it says specifically, you are most likely to get brown trout as this is the cheapest and most common variant. Sea trout are much larger and not often seen outside specialist fish-mongers. I've seen some in Moxons occasionally but they're not cheap and you have to buy the whole thing, not just a fillet.

So, I would imagine Hizars are serving brown trout, which is quite tasty if grilled bbq-pit style but easily dries out if cooked too long.

[Penguin68]

You can normally tell brown from sea trout (remembering that they are essentially the same fish, but with different habits), as the sea trout tends to have pinker flesh (from its diet of krill) rather than the duller grey/ taupe of the river-caught brown trout. Unless stated I always assume that it is the brown trout that is advertised on menus as 'trout'.

The rainbow trout ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_trout ) is a Pacific species but has been introduced to the UK for sport.

I assume from the description that what was being served at Hisar was the very rare desert trout (not listed in Wikepedia) and obviously a non-riverine inhabitant of the more arid parts of Anatolia.

[Brendan]

I thought rainbow trout was American and brown trout European.

[Cassius]

Moxons sell sea trout, mmm oven baked in foil with lots of butter.................

Incidentally there are some trout farms inland from Kalkan but I have no idea if it was rainbow or trout.

[aligs]

Just to say that I ate at Hisar at the weekend, my first visit. It was delish, particularly the beetroot salad and vine leaves. Also liked the smoky pitta. We had loads of food, it cost us ?20 and the service was friendly. I shall be returning!

[Rowanofski]

I've only been to Hisar once and that was before its refurb. Have to say it was very good though. It smelled delicious in there - with everything being barbequed right in front of you, you get to soak in the full smokey grill glory. It isn't the most gourmet joint in the area, but it doesn't pretend to be and if you like meat, meat and more meat, then you won't be disappointed! I keep meaning to go back, but haven't got round to it.

The main reason I posted here though is to see if anyone saw an article in the LondonPaper yesterday about a Turkish restaurant offering 3 courses for ?2 (to the first 100 punters on their website at 9am or something)? I didn't, but a workmate swears he did. Not a Dulwich place I don't think, but would be grateful if anyone could point me in the general direction of this ludicrous bargain!

[Marmora Man]

In my experience the majority, unless specified otherwise, of restaurant trout will be farmed rainbow trout. Some restaurants in the right area will have access to freshly caught brown trout - usually if there's good fly fishing stream / river nearby.

Whilst there is a market for farmed brown trout it is mostly for restocking of fishing lakes and rivers. The brown trout is the native wild trout of UK - tends to range in size from under 1lb to maybe 2 / 3 1lb. It's much rarer and more difficult to catch in most rivers as the rainbow takes over its habitat. A far more beautiful fish to look at - it also tastes better than its larger cousin - better still if from a clear chalk stream and cooked that day, can be muddy in taste at wrong time of year or from a less clear river.

[*Bob*]

'Brown Trout'

[Asset]

My 12 year old caught 3 brown trout (from a stocked fishing pond) on his first fishing trip, they were scrummy.