I have to tell you…I’m not easily impressed. That’s why my recent trip to Mississippi to visit the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish farms was such a surprise. I was blown away!
I’m definitely a fish-lover, along with being a big supporter of all things “made in the USA,” when they’re available and affordable. So I was looking forward to visiting the farm-raised catfish farms recently when my production team and I headed out to Jackson, Mississippi. Boy, it was hot!
The corn bread, the catfish and everything was oh-so-tasty at Cock on the Walk
And, when we landed, we were starving, so we headed off to get our first taste of the area’s catfish at a restaurant called Cock on the Walk that sits right on the edge of the Delta. We were greeted by a feast, and lots of Southern hospitality. The fried catfish was incredible – meaty and fresh-tasting. We just couldn’t get enough. Of course, there were all the fixins’, as well, like fried green tomatoes, pan corn bread and sautéed greens. That sure was good eating!
Outside Cock on the Walk
Then it was off to work, checking out the catfish farms. This is where I was the most impressed. Let me tell you, any negative thoughts I had about catfish were dismissed when I saw how these ponds were managed. The water is constantly refreshed, the fish are fed food that floats so they feed off the top, not the bottom, and the harvesting method is as natural as can be.
Next we went to visit a processor, where we actually followed the entire process from the truck delivering the fresh live fish to the end of the line where they’re shipped to our markets. Again, the plant was very impressive, extremely clean, and the attention to quality was second to none. I was also blown away by how much fish just one plant processes on a daily basis. Guess how much: close to half a million pounds a day!
Then it was off to a quaint little restaurant, The Crown at Antique Mall, where we had a 5-course catfish meal. The catfish bisque was one of the best soups I’ve ever had; the catfish entrée, which I’ll be featuring on an upcoming show, was to-die-for; and the Southern desserts….well, they were amazing and, no, they didn’t contain catfish.
Catfish Antipasto Salad
To wrap this up, let me say that, if you’re not already a
U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish-lover like I am, please don’t “judge a book by its cover.” Try some. As a matter of fact, you should try it in my recipes for
Catfish Antipasto Platter and
Grilled Catfish Po-Boy sandwiches from yesterday’s and today’s TV segments. I promise you’ll love the taste and the price of catfish. With just one bite, you, too, will be saying…”OOH IT’S SO GOOD!!®”
Catfish Po-Boy
Share and Enjoy
