Archive for January, 2011

Food and Wine Pairing Made Easy!

Monday, January 31st, 2011

If you like to follow the rules then here are two basic ones that should get you through the night:

Rule One: Drink red wine with meat, white wine with fish and poultry.
Rule Two: Disregard rule one and eat and drink what you like. You will hear this over and over again and it’s so true. Always go with your personal preference first!

Of course, there are some classic matches that satisfy again and again and bring out the best in both wine and food. Wine can often enhance the flavors of your food tantalizing your taste buds in ways you never knew possible and vice versa. A prime example…my husband HATES white wine. When he tries it he makes a face like someone just gave him a spoonful of cough syrup. One day we went to a wine and cheese paring and he was given Blue Castello and Sauvignon Blanc. It was then that I heard words I never though would come out of his mouth, “This wine is not bad. I actually like it.” It was a breakthrough among breakthroughs! It was his first true experience of food enhancing wine and bringing out flavors in the wine he had never experienced before. Food can have that sort of magical effect on wine and when you find that magic you just can’t help but searching for more of it.

Here are some of our favorite and classic food and wine pairings. I also like to say if you don’t know what to serve, then serve champagne or sparkling wine. It’s fun and extremely food friendly.

APPETIZERS & STARTERS
ANTIPASTO – Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Malbec
ARTICHOKES – Usually a no no with wine, but I love them with Chardonnay
ASPARAGUS – Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
CARPACCIO (beef) – Pinotage, Shiraz, Shiraz/Pinotage blend, Malbec
CARPACCIO (tuna) – Sauvignon Blanc
CAVIAR – Chenin Blanc, Champagne!
COLD MEATS – Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
NUTS AND/OR OLIVES – Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
OYSTERS (raw) – Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
PASTA SALAD – Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
PASTA WITH CREAM SAUCE – Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
PASTA WITH SHELLFISH – Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
PASTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz
PASTA WITH VEGETABLES – Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Pinotage, Malbec
PAT

Craving Sushi, Sashimi and Tempura From a Japanese Restaurant in Tampa FL

Monday, January 31st, 2011

There was a time when Japanese food was considered too quirky for the mainstream palate. This has become a thing of the past, though, because now you can sushi bars and Japanese restaurants in every major city in the world, including in the United States. People have come to love Japanese food, such as nigiri sushi, Maki Mono Sushi, sashimi and tempura even in Tampa FL.

People not very familiar with Japanese food may find it strange to try sushi and sashimi at a time. They will surely love tempura, though. Tempura is usually made of different kinds of fish and vegetables coated with a special batter and fried to an airy crispness. Seafood used, mostly shrimps, prawns, fish fillets, squid, scallops and crab, while the most common vegetables sweet potato, eggplant, pepper, yam, okra, green beans, carrots, mushrooms and squash. The fried tempura is immersed in a mild, sweet and savory sauce made from dashi (stock), mirin (rice wine), shoyu (soy sauce) and grated ginger for dinner. Some people prefer to use a dab of spicy wasabi paste to add to the sauce.

Sashimi is an acquired taste, which usually develops into a constant desire. Sashimi is fresh raw fish dipped in soy sauce and wasabi paste. Used the typical fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel and yellowtail, but shrimp, squid, sea urchins and shellfish are also served in this way. The dish may seem daunting to the uninitiated, but the sweet taste of fresh fish is sure to haunt those who have tried. Salmon is delicious as it melts in your mouth.

Sushi is similar to that often used in sashimi fresh raw fish, but this is combined with vinegared rice and sometimes other toppings. It is dipped in soy sauce and wasabi paste. Sushi has become popular even in Tampa FL, because each delicious bite offers a complete feast in itself. You can have a complete and nutritious meal with several pieces already sushi.

There are many types of sushi such as nigiri sushi and maki sushi Mono. Nigiri sushi is a hand-shaped oblong of vinegared rice swabbed with wasabi paste and garnished with fresh raw seafood such as those used for sashimi, cooked fish such as eels and octopus, or other ingredients such as scrambled eggs. Nigiri sushi is sometimes a thin strip of nori (seaweed) or the use of the beam with a border of nori to hold in loose toppings such as fish roe, sea urchins and oysters. Those who are not brave enough raw fresh fish cooked to choose the toppings to try. They are just as good. Nigiri sushi is a popular dish in Tampa FL.

With Makimono not get sushi toppings, but instead fills in the vinegared rice rolled with a sheet of nori to help keep the shape. A bamboo mat used for rolling. The resulting cylinder is then cut with a scalpel into thick slices. A cylinder usually delivers six to eight pieces. Maki Mono Sushi is usually filled with fresh seafood raw or cooked seafood or other mixtures, such as mango, avocado, cucumber, carrot slivers and mayonnaise. Of course a smear of wasabi always included in the mix. Sometimes Makimono sushi rolled into a cone to hold the sheet of nori and is eaten whole, not sliced. This variant is called temaki. Both types Makimono sushi are available immediately in sushi bars and Japanese restaurants in Tampa FL.

It’s comforting to know that when a desire for Nigiri sushi, Maki Mono Sushi, sashimi and tempura, and other forms of Japanese food, you can easily Authentic Japanese sushi bar or restaurant in Tampa FL.

found

Tomo Japanese Restaurant 216 E Bearss Ave Tampa, FL 33613 Phone:(813) 962-1560 Email: sun8322@gmail.com Website: http://www.tomotogo.com

Most Liked Sushi, Sashimi and Tempura of Japanese Restaurants in Tampa FL

Monday, January 31st, 2011

Japanese food is one of the most popular international cuisines today. People of all nationalities actually looking for it when eating out. It is almost inconceivable that a few generations ago, only the Japanese traditional food, and only passengers carried to the Far East had a chance to taste their specialties. These days, you will surely find a good Japanese restaurant or a sushi bar in any modern city in the United States and elsewhere. The pillars and popular favorites in Japanese eating nigiri sushi, Maki Mono Sushi, sashimi and tempura. The same applies in Tampa FL.

Among the many dishes in Japanese food, sashimi and sushi with raw fish and other raw fish can be daunting for those not quite adventurous taste. It would therefore be best to introduce them to the wonders of Japanese food that is universally loved by tempura. In fact, it is easily the top dish ordered in a typical Japanese restaurants, even in Tampa FL.

For the tempura dish, a variety of seafood and vegetables are coated with a very cold light batter and fried. The resulting pieces are very light tempura and crispy, never soggy and oily. They are served freshly made and eaten while piping hot, drizzled with a sauce or broth made of dashi, mirin or rice wine, shoyu or soy sauce and wasabi paste. Among the seafood is used for its shrimp tempura, shrimp, fish fillets, squid, scallops and crab. Popular vegetable tempura eggplant, okra, mushrooms, sweet potato, yam, squash, peppers, carrots and green beans.

Sashimi can be introduced for those brave enough to try raw fish. After all, sashimi is nothing but the freshest and best raw fish, expertly sliced and artfully arranged and presented. Japanese restaurants ensure the highest hygiene in the preparation. Special knives are used for sashimi and chefs are specially trained for his presentation. Sashimi is eaten plain or lightly dipped in shoyu soy sauce and wasabi paste. Among the shellfish are used for sashimi salmon, tuna, mackerel, yellowtail, shrimp, squid, sea urchins and scallops. Even those who have tried for the first time are surprised by the delicate sweetness of raw fish raw seafood.

Sushi can also among its toppings or fillings, and it is eaten dipped in shoyu or light soy sauce with wasabi paste, but it’s not like sashimi. In fact, the main ingredients of sushi cooked Japanese rice vinegar to taste with the Japanese. Sushi has become so popular around the world, though, that even sushi restaurants and sushi bars are devoted to the Tampa FL.

Sushi can be served as nigiri sushi or maki sushi Mono. Nigiri sushi is made of an oval of boiled Japanese rice seasoned with vinegar and a smear of wasabi paste, then topped with one or a combination of raw and cooked ingredients. Strips of nori or dried seaweed can be used to fence in loose toppings, such as raw fish roe. Maki Mono Sushi has fillings instead of toppings. The cooked Japanese rice seasoned with vinegar and swabbed with wasabi paste is placed on a sheet of nori along with the chosen fillings and rolled into a log. This is then sliced into thick discs. Maki Mono Sushi can also come as temaki which is a cone of nori filled with vinegared rice and fillings. All kinds of sushi are popular in sushi restaurants and sushi bars in Tampa FL.

The Japanese restaurants and sushi bars will always be ready for your orders of Nigiri sushi, Maki Mono Sushi, sashimi and tempura are in Tampa FL.

Tomo Japanese Restaurant 216 E Bearss Ave Tampa, FL 33613 Phone:(813) 962-1560 Email: sun8322@gmail.com Website: http://www.tomotogo.com

Matching Champagne and Food

Monday, January 31st, 2011

Champagne is regularly served as an aperitif or as a toast at the end of a meal, so it is often overlooked when it comes to food. However, because Champagne is naturally acidic, it makes a really good food match – and not just for oysters and caviar as you might expect, but for a number of different foods.

Non Vintage Champagne

This is the cheapest and probably most common type of Champagne available. Non-vintage Champagne is blended from wines from several years and, in doing so, this ensures that a consistent style is achieved. Non-vintage Champagne is younger and, generally, fruiter than other Champagnes, so is a perfect match for slightly lighter foods, such as egg or mushroom based dishes, hard cheeses, pasta or risotto (particularly with a cream or mushroom based sauce), vegetables, fish and seafood. Strange as it may seem, non-vintage Champagne also goes really well with fish and chips, as the acidity of the Champagne helps cut through the oiliness.

Vintage Champagne

Vintage Champagne is made from a blend of wines from a particular year, when the quality of the wine is good enough to declare a vintage. Because it has been aged for a few years, it has as slightly more complex structure than a non-vintage Champagne, so can stand up to stronger, fuller flavours. For example, all types of fish and seafood, especially when accompanied with a creamy sauce are a perfect match for vintage Champagne, as are lightly smoked foods, cheese, duck, caviar and poultry with a rich sauce.

Blanc de Blancs

Champagne is made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, which are red grapes, along with Chardonnay, which is a white grape. Blanc de Blancs, however, is Champagne which is made exclusively from the Chardonnay grape. This is a rare style of Champagne and goes well with lighter style foods and, in particular, sushi, oysters, goat’s cheese, gently flavoured white fish and vegetables.

Blanc de Noirs

This is Champagne made from just the red grapes, Pinot Noir and / or Pinot Meunier. If you come across a bottle, try teaming it with full flavoured foods such as meat and cheese.

Demi Sec

Demi sec style Champagne is sweeter than traditional brut champagne and is a good match for foie gras or foods that have a slight edge of sweetness to them. It also goes well with desserts (as long as they aren’t too sweet), as well as red berries – particularly strawberries.

Ros

Sushi, Sashimi and Tempura Prepared in Japanese Restaurants in Tampa FL

Monday, January 31st, 2011

There are a number of Japanese restaurants and sushi bars in Tampa FL. This is proof that Japanese food is very popular with residents. When people eat out, they choose Japanese food a lot of times. Among the favorites are Nigiri sushi, Maki Mono Sushi, sashimi and tempura. Would not you like to know how prepared the Japanese restaurants and sushi bars in Tampa FL? L 1

Tempura is perhaps the most universally love Japanese food. It is made from a variety of seafood such as shrimp, prawns, fish fillets, squid, scallops and crab and vegetables such as eggplant, okra, mushrooms, sweet potato, yam, squash, peppers, carrots and green beans. These are dipped in a special refrigerated light batter then deep fried. Real is always light and crispy tempura. It should not be fat, heavy and soggy. Tempura pieces should be eaten immediately to the service, dipped in a sauce made from dashi, or broth, mirin or rice wine, shoyu or soy sauce and wasabi paste.

Sashimi takes some getting used to especially for those with unadventurous taste because it’s made of nothing but the freshest raw fish. Sashimi chefs use the sharpest knives professionally salmon, tuna, mackerel, yellowtail, shrimp, squid, sea urchins and scallops slice and artfully present it in Japanese restaurants. Experts testify their delicate sweetness, even when immersed in shoyu or soy sauce with wasabi paste. It may be an acquired taste, but many people can remember and sashimi craving to continue after the first tests. In fact, sashimi is already a favorite around the world.

Sushi is often stuffed or topped with raw seafood. In fact, the same raw fish used for sashimi, sushi is also used as toppings or fillings. Sushi, however, is usually made of cooked Japanese rice seasoned with vinegar and Japanese wasabi paste. The popularity of this dish is proven by the proliferation of sushi restaurants and sushi bars not only in Tampa FL, but around the world.

The two main styles of sushi are nigiri sushi and maki sushi Mono. Nigiri sushi is presented as an oval mound of cooked Japanese rice seasoned with vinegar and a smear of wasabi paste, topped with one or more ingredients, either raw or cooked. These loose toppings, such as raw fish roe, can be held by strips of nori or dried seaweed. In Makimono sushi toppings are used to fill the place. These can be rolled with the cooked Japanese rice vinegar to taste and swabbed with wasabi paste on a sheet of nori, resulting in a log that is then sliced into thick coins. Maki Mono Sushi can also be presented as temaki. In this case, the vinegared rice and fillings put in a flat cone of nori. All these different styles of sushi can be ordered at sushi restaurants and sushi bars in Tampa FL.

Now you know how Nigiri sushi, Maki Mono Sushi, sashimi and tempura are prepared in Japanese restaurants and sushi bars Tampa FL, you will probably crave for them even more.

Tomo Japanese Restaurant 216 E Bearss Ave Tampa, FL 33613 Phone:(813) 962-1560 Email: sun8322@gmail.com Website: http://www.tomotogo.com

Develop 6 Pack Abs With the Right Diet

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

So, you what do develop 6 pack abs. So do a lot of people. But you have found the information that will show you how.

Building six pack abs isn’t just about have ing a good workout. If you don’t eat right your muscular abs will still be covered by a layer of fat. So, here’s how to eat your way to get those 6 pack abs…

Eat Effective Food Ratios

This part is all about balance. No all protean or all carbs or all fat diets. Balance your intake.

You want a 50-30-20% food ratio. Which means, about half of your calories should come from carbohydrates (50%), about 30% of your calories should come from protean (turkey, chicken, salmon, etc.), and about 20% of your intake should be healthy fats (nuts, avocados, etc.).

This ratio gives your body enough of all the essentials that it needs to stay healthy. Hey, you even need fat to keep your body working. Just roughly balance your intake of foods around the percentages listed above, and you’ll do great.

Eat Basic Foods

By basic foods I mean food that look like, well, food. If they are veggies, they should look something like what they were when picked. And meats should look like meat – without tons of sauces and refinement.

If you’re eating doritos, candy bars, cherry pie, meatloaf, and steaks slathered in gravy and sauces – that’s not going to cut it. Those aren’t real foods.

Steamed brown rice, lean steak or turkey, greens, squash, sushi… Even oatmeal and eggs, two things you probably have right now. There are tons of real, basic foods to eat instead of and ones. That are delicious, too.

When you eat them you’ll burn more calories actually digesting them. While you don’t have to spend virtually any energy to digest a candy bar or potato chip. Since there’s nothing there to digest!

Eat real foods. They are good for you, will burn calories, and will help you develop 6 pack abs.

Drink Green Tea

Green tea won’t get those 6 pack abs on its own. But it will help you get there!

Green tea does two important jobs; (1) it makes you feel ‘full’ and serves as a substitute for sugary sodas, and (2) it actually boost your metabolism slightly, helping you to burn calories. Both very helpful.

Sugary drinks don’t satiate your hunger and most times just add more calories to your diet. Replacing sodas and fruit juices with water is good, but green tea is even better – for the reasons outlined above. It’s just one more technique that helps you develop 6 pack abs.

If you keep eating and not exercising and simply start drinking green tea, you won’t see any difference. But paired with changes in your diet and increased exercise, it will accelerate your progress to build six pack abs.

Every little bit helps.

So…

These are some basic dietary guidelines to start you on the right path to eat your way to six pack abs. But, more info and good exercises will help you too. Check out links below for more information about how to develop 6 pack abs.

I’m Aaron McCloud and I run Complete Strength Training, a site devoted to providing quality information about strength training. Go there to get more info about getting a six pack stomach.- Copyright: You may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, active links, and this copyright notice remain intact.

Celiac Questions: Brown Rice Flour vs. White Rice Flour — What’s the Difference?

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

If you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease, your doctor probably advised you on the many foods and food ingredients you must avoid. Definite no-no products are those made with wheat, rye and barley, the popular gluten-bearing grains found in many breads, cereals, pastas, crackers and other baked goods.

Gluten also lurks in other less obvious places such as luncheon meats, salad dressings, yogurt, malt vinegar, soy sauce, many flavorings, and gravy and sauces thickened with flour.

People with celiac disease experience a severe immune reaction to gluten — the protein in wheat, rye and barley that can inflame the lining of the small intestine and interfere with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients and minerals. When you can’t get the nutrients your body needs, health complications arise.

Rice products — dietician-approved for celiac sufferers
Rice flour is one food ingredient you can eat without fear, since it contains no gluten. Compared to other gluten-free grain products, enriched rice flour is also a relatively nutrient-rich ingredient you can include in your gluten-free diet.

But which is better for you — brown rice flour or white rice flour? Is there a significant difference in nutritional value?

Brown rice flour explained
Brown rice flour is made from finely ground whole-grain rice. This slightly tan-coloured flour has a nutty flavor and is higher in fiber and nutrients than white rice flour. This is good to know, since people with celiac disease often need to supplement their nutrient intake, especially with folate, iron and dietary fiber.

What is folate?
Folate (an important water-soluble B vitamin) is especially critical for fetus development, which is why pregnant women especially should have this nutrient during and after pregnancy.

Adults should have at least 400 micrograms of folate daily and for women, at least 600 micrograms during pregnancy. One cup of brown rice flour contains 25 grams of folate versus 5 grams of folate in one cup of white rice flour.

White rice flour
As the name implies, white rice flour is made from ground white rice, and contains no bran or polish (the part of the layer under the rice bran) thus is lower than in fiber and nutrients than brown rice flour. White rice flour contains less folate than brown rice flour.

(By way of note, glutinous rice flour is also known as sweet, sticky, or sushi rice flour. It’s made from sticky short-grain rice that is higher in starch than brown or white rice. Like brown and white rice flours, glutinous rice flour doesn’t contain gluten either.)

Rice flour and fiber
Although our bodies don’t break down fiber, it plays an important role, particularly through our digestive system. Fiber helps us maintain regular bowel movements.

Consuming adequate amounts of fiber is especially important for people with celiac disease, but especially those newly diagnosed individuals who may have symptoms of diarrhea caused by gluten damaging the small intestine.

Comparison-wise, the dietary fiber of brown rice flour is more than double the amount found in white rice flour.

In summary: While all rice products are good for people who are celiac or suffer from gluten-intolerances, foods and snacks made with brown rice flour are better than white rice flour.

Information and discussions on celiac disease, gluten-free living and riceworks

Restaurant Uniforms: Tip Your Hat to Paying Customers

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

Whether you are the manager of an upscale restaurant establishment or a lively, entertaining coffee shop, the restaurant uniforms that you provide to your employees will inevitably set the tone for the atmosphere of your restaurant.

While your kitchen staff may provide excellent and exquisite menu items, the appearance of your serving staff and their restaurant uniforms will form an impression in the minds of you customers and instill an instant conception of service standards.

For a classy, upper class steakhouse or specialty establishment like a sushi or Thai eatery, restaurant uniforms should exceed customer expectations. The guests are in their best attire to enjoy fine dining and expect nothing less of the waiter or waitress that will be serving them. What is labeled as “black tie” apparel should definitely be applied to the look of the restaurant uniforms of your staff, including servers, food runners, greeters, hostesses and coat check employees.

There’s something about black paired with white for restaurant uniforms that exhibits professionalism and high standards, and with this color scheme, you can rarely go wrong. Neatly pressed black slacks complemented by a long-sleeved white dress shirt are an impressive combination; complete with non-skid black moccasins kept clean and polished.

If you want to add still a little more flare to your well-to-do establishment, having your staff wear neckties can be a fun and creative endeavor. Leave the design and color up to the server, as long as the graphics are tasteful and not too out-of-place. Being able to express their unique personalities to the guests will give the customers something to talk about and be amused by, and may strike up a conversation between the customer and server, possibly leading to increased tips. Adding accomplishment pins to restaurant uniform shirts such as “employee of the month” or “exceptional server” will give the waiter a boost of confidence and provide assurance to the customer that their order will be correct and their service prompt.

If you run a more light-hearted, family-oriented diner, restaurant uniforms should be kept casual, allowing the customers to relate to their server more comfortably, increasing their dining experience. Suggestions include solid color tee-shirts, baseball caps, and colorful aprons.

Finally, avoid placing a “trainee” tag on a new server’s restaurant uniform. This singles out the waiter, making them self-conscious, possibly leading them to be a victim of customer maltreatment. The word trainee screams out incompetent and inexperienced, and will instantly instill a message in the customer’s minds that their service will be less than exceptional. Having “new hire” plastered on a newcomer’s restaurant uniform may also make them more nervous, making them feel like they stick out like a sore thumb.

Freelance writer for over eleven years.
Restaurant Uniforms Restaurant Apparel Uniform Scrubs

Buffets, Infusions Restaurant and the Okanagan College Culinary Arts Buffet, a Gourmet Dining Experience

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

In eighteenth century France the modern day buffet was developed which soon spread across Europe. Serving a meal to oneself has a long and interesting history, and eventually this style of eating was converted to modern day buffets.

The second half of the nineteenth century, especially in the English speaking world, buffets became extremely popular for meals. Buffets are very popular with people today, because, it offers plenty of food variety at a reasonable price. People can create their own dishes with more meat, less vegetables and fewer side dishes, plus creating salads with appealing ingredients that they enjoy. Buffets offer people the opportunity to try new types of food that they would not order off a menu in a restaurant.
Infusions Restaurant at the Okanagan College hosts many buffets every year, and the last “buffet” was held a week after their Okanagan Wine Festival Gourmet Dinner which attracted a sellout crowd of over 80 dining guests. Guests were treated to a “Five Course” gourmet dinner with special Okanagan Valley wines to accompany each course.

The Okanagan College Culinary Arts Buffet will be prepared with the special talents of the new, up and coming future chefs of your favorite restaurants, cruise ships, hotels, ski and golf resorts, all directed and instructed by World Class Chefs. The buffet will include fresh meats, poultry, seafood of all types, and of course Okanagan Valley fresh vegetables and fruits.

Infusions Restaurant and the Okanagan College Culinary Arts Bakery will have a spectacular dessert buffet for this special night with freshly made gourmet desserts, and with a delicious assortment of as many freshly made Pastries, Tortes, Cakes and Chocolate Confections as a person could possibly eat after the meal.

The Culinary Arts buffet will offer a HUGH selection of seafood and seafood platters, from Sushi Rolls, Dim Sum, Salmon, Halibut to Shark and Lobster. Dishes containing Gratin of Potatoes & Yams, many types of Pasta with Grilled and Glazed Vegetables, and of course the Roast Beef and Beef Tenderloin, and ALL for $15.95!

For people in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley who want a “Spectacular Feast”, this buffet will take place on December 12, 2008 at Okanagan College’s Infusions Restaurant. Infusions Restaurant at the Okanagan College and the Okanagan College Culinary Arts program hosts many private gourmet dinners, private functions and private buffets every year for people, companies and organizations in all parts of the Okanagan Valley and beyond.

Join them on Friday at Okanagan College’s Infusions Restaurant for their Spectacular Friday Night Seafood & Prime Rib Buffet! The Chefs and Culinary Arts Student chefs will create special tantalizing items for this special December Buffet Extravaganza! Come in on Friday, December 12, 2008 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm and enjoy a fine gourmet meal of your choice. Infusions Restaurant is located at 1000 KLO Road, in Kelowna. Fine Dining At Kelowna’s Best Kept Secret!

A very reasonable price for this gourmet buffet at $15.95. Call for reservations at Infusions Restaurant: 250-762-5445 ext. 4426.

James Murray is a successful writer and online Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) expert providing valuable tips and advice for those interested in seo and sem strategies. His numerous articles found on the Internet, provide useful and factual seo and sem information and insight. Some of his websites are : http://www.seo-worldwide.net , http://www.atclickbank.com , http://www.website-submissions-worldwide.com

California Ocean Fishing – All About Calico Bass

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

Calico Bass (Paralabrix clathratus), or more properly called, Kelp Bass are the mainstay of the Southern California inshore recreational fishery. This grouper-like sea bass is popular for excellent table fare and skill required hooking and landing them consistently. Easily recognized by the squarish white spots all over the fish, Calicos are the most numerous fish inhabiting the extensive kelp forests of Southern California. Any half-day party boat in the summer months will generally target either Calico Bass or their cousins, Sand Bass.

Calico Bass range in size up to nearly two feet long and 18 lbs. Any fish over about four pounds in California and seven pounds in Baja is considered a real trophy. They range from Central California to central Baja but are common only from Point Conception to Punta Abreojos. Some of the better Calico Bass spots include the kelp beds near the offshore islands in Southern California and the Mexican Islands of Guadalupe, Cedros, and the San Benitos island group. Along the coast, the kelp beds near La Jolla and Point Loma, near San Diego are the best places north of the border for Calico Bass. South of the border, along the seldom fished, desolate, Mexican coast, any of the near shore kelp forest stands can be extremely good for Calico Bass fishing. Though Calicos are predominantly a summer fish, they do not migrate and can be caught all year round near many of kelp beds. The farther south you go, the less seasonality the fish seem to show. Catching Calico Bass

Kelp Bass are voracious feeders. Many a fisherman has had the experience of tossing an 8 or 9 inch long brown bait (herring) right into the fringes of the kelp bed thinking he would hook a trophy sized bass, only to have the huge bait inhaled by an 11 inch fish (too small to be kept). Calicos readily take any of the more common live baits including anchovies, sardines, brown herring, and squid. In certain times of the year, they’ll eagerly snap up strips of cut squid as well. Most Calico fishermen fly line for bass, that is use no weight, simply a hook tied to the end of the line with a frisky live bait hooked such that it will swim easily. This is gently tossed to the fringes of kelp beds and allowed to take line freely.

In addition to kelp beds, Calicos often inhabit shallow water reefs and can be caught at many of these techniques by using a sinker to get bait down into the structure. Sunken ships are great places to locate Calicos. They also frequent the seawalls in and around harbors and many bays where moorings or other bottom structure provides suitable shelter.

As for lures, many fishermen toss heavy iron, that is, candy bar or bone jigs along the fringes of the kelp beds to lure the bashful bass from their leafy homes to snap at a well presented jig. In addition, lead headed rubber swim baits, particularly the single tailed shad bodied lures in blue & silver or green and white are an excellent choice for Calico Bass. The effectiveness of such lures is improved by the addition of a long thin strip of squid to the hook of the lure. A thin strip will usually outperform a chunk, since it doesn’t restrict the natural swimming action of the lure.

Some fishermen use swimming plug lures such as Rapalas, Rebels, and the like, for these bass. They take these artificial lures readily. A few private boat fishermen who use tackle and techniques very similar to fresh water bass fishing have some success, toss and crank, toss and crank, but most ocean fishermen seem reluctant to abandon their tried and true salt water techniques.

There are a number of old pros at Bass fishing that use small boats and trolling techniques running right close to rocks and underwater structure and really catch lots of quality fish. The secret is to keep your trolling line short, like maybe 15 feet or so and slow troll as close as you can to rock walls, boiler rocks, semi submerged wrecks, etc. – anywhere where there is shallow structure and places for Calicos to hide. Rapalas, jointed Rebels, and other swimming plugs are the best ticket for this type of fishing. This is not for the faint of heart and the bashed up bottoms of the aluminum boats these fishermen use are testament to the caution needed.

Kelp Bass also take flies. Larger, blue and white streamer flies imitating anchovies such as Clouser minnows and Lefty’s deceivers seem to do the best coupled with a shooting head, sinking line. Though they’ll sometimes boil on the surface to feed they usually prefer to stay from a few feet below the surface to the mid water depths. Calicos are ambush feeders unlike many surface fish who run down heir prey. Calicos tend to sit in cover waiting for an unsuspecting prey to happen by, so the most effective technique when fly fishing is by presenting the fly as a nervous but unsuspecting bait fish with twitchy but slow movements as opposed to fast ripping retrieves so many other ocean fish seem to enjoy.

Preparing Calico Bass

Calicos are almost universally filleted. They’re rarely cut into steaks owing to their small size and low oil content. For this reason, they’re generally not prepared whole since the belly meat, head, collar, and other parts contain little worthwhile. The roe is hardly worth picking out of the viscera.

Eating Calico Bass

Calico Bass is considered tops eating by many people, especially those who like extremely mild, low oil content fish. They’re probably best fried since oil is added during the cooking. They’re also great baked, especially when butter or olive oil is added. Sauteing is another great option since it, also adds flavorful oil. You can eat them raw as sashimi, especially if the fish is filleted and iced down quickly to tighten the meat, but it’s too mild for many a sushi aficionado’s palette, and it will pickle as in ceviche, but again, the low oil content makes them a bit mild for this also. For the same reason, they don’t smoke very well. Stick with frying, sauteing or baking for best results.

Jeff Spira is a fishermen and writer of fishing and seamanship books. His web site California Ocean Fishing offers further insights into this fun sport and has links to online sources for his books on the subject.