How do you like your salmon done?

[college_cook]

Ah, good old corn-fed Indiana. I was a restaurant last night with my parents, and it was a more modern place than many around, and the decor and pricing reflected it. It was also not very far off from Chicago, where many more places know the right way to do something.

So since I was near a major metropolitan area instead of in the middle of the corn, I decided now would be a good time to get some fish. When the waitress took my order I asked how they cooked the salmon. She replied: "Oh we do that on the wood grill." Shocking, because I definitely read that on the menu 30 seconds before I ordered. "Let me clarify; what doneness do you cook your salmon to?" "You mean like, do we leave it rare? Oh no no no, it's WELL-done, it ain't gonna be like, raw or nothing in the middle."


I know that lots of restaurants have a policy of cooking all fish to well, and I suppose I can even understand it. But here we are, 30 miles from a huge city and in an otherwise great place, and they are shocked to hear that some fool out there wants his salmon medium, and don't he know he could get that salmonella- no thats from chickens.... don't he know know he could get that chickenella from eating under-done fish? Crazy boy must have himself a death wish.


The ordeal just made me laugh a little, and I thought I'd share. Despite being well done, the salmon was still good, btw.

[GotGarlic]

I actually prefer salmon just barely cooked through. Tuna is best rare, though.

[GB]

I like my salmon raw.

[Andy M.]

Rather than assuming they cooked their fish well done because they are yokels, consider the restaurant was probably smart enough to be catering to their regular clientele's preferences.

[jennyema]

For some reason underdone tuna is good to me but not salmon. I don't like it overcooked but I do like salmon cooked through .

[Alix]

OK, I'm weirder still. I like sushi salmon mmmmmmm, but when its cooked, I don't like any mush in the middle. Weird huh?

[GB]

I don't think that is weird at all Alix. I am not crazy about cooked salmon at all (although I think it is growing on me), but when it is cooked I do need it cooked through all the way.

[Alix]

GB, did you ever try that Wild West Salmon I told you about ages ago? I bet you would LOVE that.

[GB]

No I never did. It has been very difficult for me to get fish lately. My local super market decided it was a good idea to get rid of the fish counter and only sell pre-packaged fish in styrofoam trays with plastic wrap. You could not pay me to eat that junk. It is not like I live in a land locked state either.

We do have an excellent fish monger just a few miles from my house, but the close before I get home from the office and my wife is not confident enough to know how to buy fish so she won't do it. My fish eating is all done in restaurants now.

[Alix]

Tell her to go try it. All she has to do is give the fishmonger a big smile and have DD smile too and he'll give her the nicest salmon he's got! Just tell her to do the poke and sniff test. (Nice and firm, bounces back and doesn't "mush" and doesn't smell too fishy) She's branching out in the kitchen, this will be a killer confidence booster.

BTW, I edited in the recipe link for the wild west salmon in case anyone is interested.