Wednesday, 25 March 2015 12:16

Choosing Fresh Fish & Seafood In Gran Canaria

Here's how to pick the freshest seafood in Gran Canaria at both restaurants and shops.

Location matters

Order fish up in the Cumbres and you'll get frozen fish (and probably a long-suffering sign from the waiter). In fact, don't order fish anywhere in Gran Canaria where you can't see the sea or where the fish isn't on display.  There's anything wrong with frozen fish; we'd much rather have a freshly defrosted fillet than a stale fresh one.  

Order fish in a grill restaurant and you'll definitely get the eyebrows from the waiter. Grills do cow, lamb and pig but put fish on the menu to cater to the awkward squad. If you want turf, go to a grill, if you want surf, find a fish restaurant by the sea. 

Look your dinner in the eye

A fresh fish looks like it's just come out of the water: shiny and wet with a glossy, clear eye that bulges outwards. Any sign of dry fins or skin, shrivelled eyes or gills and you're looking at a fish that's been out of water for too long. Fillets should be plump and moist with no dry bits at the edges. If a fish smells of fish, then don't eat it: Fresh fish smell of the sea.  

Know your fish

The freshest fish in many resort restaurants are seabass (lubina) and gilthead bream (dorada) delivered daily from the east coast fish farms. Neither species lives around the Canary Islands so they can't be wild caught. Again, nothing wrong with farmed fish provided you know what you're getting and paying for. 

If local fishermen are catching sardines (sardinas), mackerel (caballa), whitebait (longorones) or horse mackerel (chicharros), you'll know about it as all the fish restaurants will have them on the daily menu boards. They are often the freshest fish on offer but come and go as the schools migrate past the islands.

Where there's little fish there's always tuna: Look out for signs advertising fresh bonito and atun. 

Small, inshore or shore caught fish in Gran Canaria are tossed in flour and grilled or deep fried. They are sold as pescado de barquillo in restaurants and you often pay by weight. Since the water off Gran Canaria gets deep fast, there isn't a huge amount of small fish to go around so prices can be high. Expect to pay 20 euros for a plate with several small fish. The most common are striped bream (sargos), pink bream (breca) combers (cabrillas), parrot fish (viejas) and red mullet (salmonetes).

Most big fish, especially blue fish is frozen. This kills parasites as well as keeping it fresh. 

Seafood

Almost all seafood is imported to the Canary Islands as the water gets deep fast. Squid and octopus may be caught locally, but all shellfish and prawns come from northern Spain or even Britain and Ireland (the British eat it on holiday but not at home). Most is frozen but classier restaurants serve the fresh stuff.

Alex says: You don't want to eat fresh octopus as it's tough. In the old days people used to bash them against a rock for a few minutes to tenderise them but freezing works just as well. Squid freezes perfectly so there's no need to worry about freshness.

Enjoy your fresh fish and seafood in Gran Canaria and if you have any questions just ask us

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Tip of the day

  • Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?
    Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?

    Visitors to Gran Canaria often ask whether it is better to exchange their local currency for euros at home or in Gran Canaria. 

    The answer is that it is almost always better to buy your euros at home than it is to bring pounds to Gran Canaria and use local banks or currency exchanges. This rule of thumb applies all over the world. A currency is almost always cheaper the further away you are from the place you can spend it (because demand for it is lower). 

    Exchange rates are almost always better at home than in Gran Canaria

    You are very likely to get a better exchange rate using a British currency exchange specialist or local bank. Many of these companies will deliver your euros to your home.

    One of the best rates in the UK is often from the post office, especially if you do it well in advance.

    The only way you'll get a better rate in Gran Canaria than at home is if the exchange rate changes while you are travelling and this is rare. 

    You also have to bear in mind that currency exchanges in Gran Canaria are getting rarer and some local banks don't exchange money for non-clients. 

    To Transfer large amouynts of money to Gran Canaria, or to make regular transfers, always use a reputable currency broker such as Currencies Direct. This will save you money on exchange rates and bank charges and is highky secure. 

    The risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria

    Another important factor to consider is the risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria: If it is lost or stolen, there is no way of getting it back. 

    It is much safer to bring a debit or credit card and use local bank ATMs to take out money. These days, a good option is a pre-charged debit card. 

    Cards may be slightly more expensive that carrying cash, unless you seek out a bank card with low commissions, but it is much more secure. 

    Bank ATMs like Bankia, Santander and BBVA often charge lower rates than the ATMs in shopping centres and busy tourist areas.

    Alex Says: Always select the Euro option at ATMs in Gran Canaria because the exchange rate is much better than if you opt for the Local Currency option. The same applies when you pay by card in shops and restaurants.

    See our Gran Canaria Tips section for more nuggets of useful local information.

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