How fresh is fresh?

[Surfer2]

I am curious, when I buy a fish dish at a local restaurant how fresh is it? That may sound vague, but here is a more specific scenario. Ok, I go to the local restaurant and the waiter tells me "We just got in some fresh swordfish today". So if he is telling me the truth and the restaurant did get the fish in that day (say in the morning). When did the fish purveyor get the swordfish in? And how old is fish typically from the time it is caught, then flown to NY, Chicago, or wherever, then to the purveyor, then to the restaurant and finally to my plate?
I have been ocean fishing and tasted swordfish that was caught the same day, cut up and cooked, and it tasted a lot different from the swordfish that the waiter told me was "fresh in today". Any thoughts?

Thank you.

P.S. I am not a chef or cook, just love to go out to eat.

[This message has been edited by Surfer2 (edited August 02, 2000).]

[Bob S]

Ouch, there is a question that wholesalers do not want you to know the answer to.....first it varies by species. Let's take swordfish.....we can buy sword from a boat that has been out for 5 weeks or one that has been out for 3 days......once landed that fish moves fast....probably to the plate in 3 days.

The biggest problem the industry has is lying. A fish's freshness is determined equally by handling and time. A 1 day old fish that was not handled properly is worse that a 1 week old fish that was handled properly........Wholesalers and Chefs are generally very well educated on fish quality....where wholesalers trick the customer is when they sell a older good looking fish that has a shelf life of 4 hours.....make sure you have a wholesaler that will take back this product......

[UniChef]

A lot of places are marketing "day boat" seafood. This is referring to boats that just go out for the day, as opposed to boats that go out for weeks at a time, as Bob S is referring to.

The fact of the matter is seafood is unregulated for the most part. Know your supplier.

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Mike Bersell, CEC
http://www.unichef.com
unichef@unichef.com

[mudbug]

Since you can never really know, trust your senses and your instincts. If you're talking about fish, are the eyes clear and plump (good sign)? Does it smell fishy? If yes, then walk away.

Few things are worse than old fish and seafood.