Cookaholics Bulletin Board

I'm catering an event in two weeks for the Ambassador to Costa Rica. She wants a Tico-inspired app (among others), and I've suggested ceviche and avocado verrines. I really need to know what is the best sustainable fish for this.

Thoughts?

Amy

Seafood Watch knows, or at least they claim to. So do local fish merchants if they care to share the information. It also depends on whether east coast varieties or west coast varieties of fish are available in your local area. Halibut? Striped Bass?

I have seafood watch on my devices, and I have a local fishmonger I trust. I guess I'm asking what kind of sustainable fish/seafood do you guys like for ceviche.

Amy

I always like scallops for ceviche

Amy,

Halibut is excellent for ceviche. However, the halibut catch is small this year, so that may not work out.

Tuna (Albacore or Skipjack) always works well.

Amy,
As you know I'm a tuna sportfisherman, and with admitted bias, I suggest Yellowfin Tuna.
Don't do bluefin - way too much stress on that fishery.
Albacore is fantastic if super fresh, but rarely sighted near Costa Rica, so I question it's appropriateness.
Yellowfin is not as endangered as bluefin, it's more abundant and an excellent alternate.
They are more abundant because of the behavior of the species.
I think more yellowfin are taken each year, BUT They mate every year, are voracious feeders and grow very fast.
They are naturally occurring in tropical (warm) waters, including the Gulf of Mexico.
In the USA they are line caught or trolled, which is where I recommend sourcing.
The very best is from the gulf, by southern US fishing companies.
Avoid Asian or other International fishers -- too much illegal / destructive netting.
The flesh suits Ceviche recipes very well, it has a very clean taste, but he fish you get MUST be super fresh, sushi quality.

That's my 2 cents.

Tunaoue,

Thanks so much for that input. I already had tuna on another appetizer, so I went with some really fresh mahi mahi. It worked well, but I'll try it with yellowfin next time!

Amy

Mahi mahi is very similar to yellowfin in that they are voracious feeders and grow very fast.
They also meet your requirement as a sustainable fish, -- THANK YOU for your consideration in that regard.
I'm sure it turned out perfect!