Carolina Catch: Cooking North Carolina Fish and Shellfish from Mountains to Coast

by Debbie Moose

Early in life, North Carolinian Debbie Moose encountered fish primarily in stick form, but once she experienced her first raw oyster and first fried soft-shell crab, their pure flavors switched her on to shellfish and fish forever. Moose has now written the cookbook that unlocks for everyone the fresh tastes of North Carolina grilled tuna, steamed shrimp, pan-seared mountain trout, fried catfish, and baked littleneck clams, to name just a few of the culinary treasures sourced from the waters of a state that stretches from the mountains to the sea.

In ninety-six dishes, Moose shows how to prepare North Carolina fish and shellfish—freshwater, saltwater, wild-caught, and farmed—in both classic southern and inventive, contemporary ways. The book's Best Basics section provides a much needed one-stop resource for confident selection, preparation, and storage, and the Think Seasonal section offers a comprehensive list with descriptions and peak availability of North Carolina fish and shellfish. Recipes include suggestions for appropriate alternate fish or shellfish—the idea is to try new varieties in season and support local fisheries. And, as Moose explains, dock-to-door services and local seafood organizations are making sourcing easier for home cooks.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cookbooks

200 pages, Hardcover

Published April 9, 2018

About the author

As a food journalist, humorous essayist and cookbook author, I've learned that food can begin conversations among all kinds of people. I'm a native North Carolinian and former food editor for The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.). My essay column for the paper has won awards, and my writing has appeared in numerous publications. I've written six cookbooks, enjoy teaching classes in both writing and cooking, and like to talk with readers about what they love to cook. I'm a member of the Southern Foodways Alliance, Association of Food Journalists and Les Dames d'Escoffier. When not cooking or writing, I play Celtic fiddle and volunteer at the domestic violence agency here in Raleigh, N.C.

Reviews

[BrocheAroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a seafood lover new to North Carolina, this book has been invaluable! Not only do I now know what in-season fish and shellfish to look for at the grocery store and at restaurants, but I have a deeper understanding of how what I'm buying and eating affects fishing overall and the fisherman who catch them. Plus, yummy recipes!

[Jennifer Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

You really can't go wrong when Debbie Moose talks about food and recipes.