I have seen fish labelled as "Sea Bass" in English in Super Polla. I have no idea if it really was Sea Bass. Lubina is a Spanish translation for Sea Bass, but I have not seen that name used here.
Was waiting for a Super "polla".... Jaja
I have seen fish labelled as "Sea Bass" in English in Super Polla. I have no idea if it really was Sea Bass. Lubina is a Spanish translation for Sea Bass, but I have not seen that name used here.
I never buy anything directly. Always have a Dominican to negotiate. Luckily I have the wife and she is excellent at bargaining. No matter what price she is given initially its way too high. I have to laugh at her. I cannot even buy an avocado from a street vendor without a hassle. They will refuse to sell to me except at the big price. I have learned its hopeless and do not even waste my time anymore.
Sea bass is called mero in the DR...Okay, so what is Sea Bass then. Still haven't figured that out?!?
Dominicans are not very accurate when it comes to labeling fish, there is not much attention to detail in general. This is why, for example, people's names will constantly get spelled wrong and newspapers cannot be trusted to print anything correct.
Seabass = Mero = Grouper
Crayfish = Langostino = (small) Lobster
These are basically incorrect but thats how the words are used here.
Dominicans are not very accurate when it comes to labeling fish, there is not much attention to detail in general. This is why, for example, people's names will constantly get spelled wrong and newspapers cannot be trusted to print anything correct.
Seabass = Mero = Grouper
Crayfish = Langostino = (small) Lobster
These are basically incorrect but thats how the words are used here.
Mero is Grouper. To my knowledge the shrimp and grouper are not caught locally.
I have been down there on a couple occasions. I've found two shops, and it's nice to get out of Gringoland and into the barrio. Have a beer, buy some fish. I will get the fish for my pescado frito there, and ask about the rest, but I don't want to be reliant on whats in their freezer that day for the other stuff.
I am hoping the guy who stands by the road has the Mahi on the day I need it. But, then again, that's a headache too. I know I can just walk into Pola or Playero, and get what I need. And, the price will be displayed, and that is the price I will pay. In Charimicos and with the Road Side Fish Dude, I have to get a price, which will be crazy cause I'm a Gringo, offer a lower price, which he will decline. Then go find a Dominican who'll go buy it for me, probably at less than what I offered him.
Eyes, gills and color. The gills get tarry after a couple hours and a Mahi is quite colorful when fresh caught then fades.
Okay. What is Mero in English?
I never buy anything directly. Always have a Dominican to negotiate. Luckily I have the wife and she is excellent at bargaining. No matter what price she is given initially its way too high. I have to laugh at her. I cannot even buy an avocado from a street vendor without a hassle. They will refuse to sell to me except at the big price. I have learned its hopeless and do not even waste my time anymore.
Also the trick to being able to negotiate anything be it fish prices or a car or house is to be willing to walk away. Probably 75% of the time they call you to come back at a lower price. See if they back off their gringo prices as you're walking away.
Mike,
Other than giving the smell tests is there any other method to tell how long the fish has been sitting on ice?