Paphos Life

On another thread, it is mentioned that Max is probably enjoying a fish lunch today. This has inspired me to start a new thread on the quality of fish. When I was young, a long, long time ago, I enjoyed fish and chips and I remember that we went as a family to a specialised restaurant every now and then. I almost always chose haddock and chips and thoroughly enjoyed them. The fish had the thinnest coating of batter. At times, I would ask for Finnan haddie or Arbroath haddock. What I remember is that the plain haddock had a delicious "fishy" flavour. Since those salad days, I have eaten relatively little fish as I rarely found anything I liked and, as I grew older, even lesser and lesser. Unfortunately, I no longer have the opportunity to taste Scotch (correct adjective for foodstuffs) haddock so am unable to judge it.

BUT, today, I find that fish has lost its taste and has become less and less appealing. I have a theory that, in my youth, the fish was possibly two or three days old in the shops and restaurants without the use of ice on the trawlers, so the flavour that I liked may have been because it had started to decompose and it was this that gave it its unique taste. Whatever, frozen "fresh" fish is now totally tasteless. Even fish (with some exceptions) bought locally as fresh is often tasteless. I have tried fish at Zephyros in Larnaca and specialist places in Zygi – slightly better but not enough to send me into ecstasy.

Am I alone in thinking that fish ain't what it used to be?

I bet you could look at the fish without wearing glasses in the old days, and it would look nice and in-focus. Now though you have to squint or put your specs on.

It's like that, but for taste.

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/00 ... 0you%20age.

The number of taste buds decreases as you age. Each remaining taste bud also begins to shrink. Sensitivity to the five tastes often declines after age 60. In addition, your mouth produces less saliva as you age.

No idea if you can get it in Cyprus but Hákarl will test both your taste buds & sense of smell

Like Dominic said, old age is a bugger,

Sorry Devil, think it's just you

Devil wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 3:55 pm I have a theory that, in my youth, the fish was possibly two or three days old in the shops and restaurants without the use of ice on the trawlers, so the flavour that I liked may have been because it had started to decompose and it was this that gave it its unique taste.

I think maybe a better word would be 'mature' perhaps?