Many chefs enjoy having Alaskan Halibut on their restaurant menu, but when fishing season ends they might have pigeonholed themselves into a fishy pickle. In a few weeks from today, Alaskan Halibut season is out so you may be concerned that you’ll have to remove the flaky flatfish from your menu.
Never fear — JetFresh is here! We’re here to keep halibut alive. We mean that. For sustainability’s sake, we must ensure that fish populations do not become overfished, so we encourage our chefs to cook seasonally. Not only does it ensure greater fish quality, but it also ensure you’re getting the best pricing available
We’re lucky to have many fisheries across the country that source different species of seafood throughout the year. This gives us the advantage to source varieties of fish that not every purveyor necessarily has access to enjoy. We’re able to source excellent Maine Halibut at advantageous prices to chefs that work with us. Like them, you may want to sign up for our price list if you want to stay ahead of the game.
Why Substitute with Maine Halibut?
If you want to get technical, the Atlantic (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) and Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) are actually two separate species. The Pacific variety does tend to grow larger than the Atlantic or Maine variety. However, with their strikingly similar taste and texture, they are interchangeable for cooking purposes.
If sustainability is your overall goal, you must switch with the season. This will give you the added benefit of far improved prices that will keep you and your food costs happy, Chef.
Other Halibut Substitutes
As a flatfish, halibut boasts flesh that is white, meaty — and most of all– delicious! It goes without saying that research is your friend, and possibly some taste testing to ensure that your dish doesn’t suffer without halibut at the center.
You can use virtually any flatfish, but these are your best bets:
- Flounder
- Turbot
- Wild striped Bass (non-flatfish alternative)
The Jet-Fresh Difference
As a small company owned by men who once walked the same lines you do, we have food costs and quality in mind. We have a reach as vast as the ocean itself, and are happy to work with you, your taste, and your budget to get you the right fish to suit your dishes.
As of this blog post, Maine Halibut prices are advantageous. Now would be an excellent time to tell us your needs. You can contact us any time, or simply join our weekly distributed price list to stay up-to-date on what’s available at any given time.
