From gill-to-fin, Aishling Moore has the Whole Catch covered in her new book

Red Gurnard and, below, on the plate at Goldie.

 

#10 WHOLE CATCH

Aishling Moore

Blasta Books

Published 25^th April, £13/€15

#10: WHOLE CATCH introduces you to pioneering young chef Aishling Moore, one of Ireland’s biggest advocates for regenerative aquaculture and a promoter of the gill-to-fin approach.

 

At 24 years old, Aishling opened Goldie, a seafood bistro in Cork. In just two years, Aishling gained the restaurant a Michelin Bib Gourmand, among many other awards - most recently Food & Wine’s Chef of the Year 2023.

Aishling in Ballycotton

The name of the restaurant is a nod to the much loved ‘Goldie’ fish-shaped weathervane that sits on top of the famous Shandon Bells at the ancient St Anne’s church in Shandon, just north of the city centre.   The weathervane symbolises

the historical importance of fishing to Cork.

As well as taking the whole catch, Goldie operates a ‘gill to tail approach’, using as much of the fish as possible.  Some of the most notable dishes are fish spines served with house togarashi, made with hops from Elbow Lane’s brewery and Pollock collar Teryaki.  The ultimate aim is to utilise as much of the fish as possible, with an emphasis on serving parts that are usually discarded.

Catch

 

Cooking only what the boats bring in that day, Aishling’s approach to using the WHOLE CATCH has gained her a loyal customer following, taught her how to plan a well-stocked larder in the event of bad weather, and be resourceful when it comes to foraging from the seabed. Without complicated techniques, expensive equipment, or unfamiliar fish, Aishling will inspire readers to attempt recognisable dishes that make the most of the whole fish. Try Goldie’s famous fish trim nuggets, buttermilk fried tails, karaage hake, shime-style marinated cuts and mussel escabeche to make ahead and store in the fridge.

Alongside step-by-step instructions, buying and storage tips, Aishling introduces clear ways to clean, prepare and cook commonly found flat fish, round fish, shellfish, even tinned fish (!), converting even the wariest and novice cook into a confident seafood handler.

Sardines at Goldie

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Aishling Moore is one of Ireland’s most exciting young chefs. Her fish restaurant, Goldie, has pioneered gill-to-fin cooking in Ireland. In 2019, Aishling was named Chef of the Year by John and Sally McKenna. Goldie achieved Michelin Bib Gourmand status in 2021 and in 2022 was awarded Best Casual Dining in Ireland 2022 by both Food & Wine Magazine and the Restaurant Association of Ireland. In 2023, Aishling was named Young Chef of the Year in the Food & Wine Awards and became deputy head of the Euro-Toques Ireland Food Council, an organisation that endeavours to preserve Irish culinary heritage by supporting traditional cooking methods and promoting producers of local and seasonal artisan products. 

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