Cleaning and cutting: exactly what to ask for

The question every fishmonger asks is how you want it prepared, and the answer depends on the dish. This guide walks through each preparation we offer and says plainly which suits which dish, which are free and which carry a fixed price per kilo.

Whole, as caught

The fish exactly as it comes, with no preparation. People who prefer to clean it themselves order this, as do people who want to see the whole fish before deciding. Free, naturally.

Gutted and scaled

The default for most people: the fish is opened, cleaned out and scaled, and reaches you ready to cook while still whole. Cleaning is a fixed price per kilo, charged on the bill before you confirm.

Butterflied for grilling

The fish is cleaned and opened flat, so it cooks evenly over charcoal and takes less time. This is the right choice for mullet, sea bream, porgy and medium sea bass. It carries a fixed price per kilo, shown before you add to the cart.

Filleted

Boneless pieces, for frying, trays and children's plates. The best fish for filleting are Nile perch, grouper, sea bass and salmon, because their flesh is thick and firm. Fillet is not a good choice for charcoal, as it is thin and dries fast.

Steaks

Thick cross-cut pieces on the bone. The bone holds moisture in, which makes this the best way to handle a large fish over charcoal or in the oven. It suits sea bass, grouper and salmon particularly well.

Shrimp and calamari

Shrimp is peeled to order and weighed in the shell before peeling. Calamari is cleaned and cut into rings or left opened flat, depending on whether you are frying or grilling. Cuttlefish and octopus are also cleaned to order.

Common questions

Does cutting reduce the weight I receive?

Yes, and that is normal. The weight is taken on the whole fish before cleaning, as any fishmonger does, and cleaning and cutting reduce it. Fillet reduces it most because it removes the bone and head. If you need a specific finished weight, order a little more.

Can I ask for a different preparation for each item?

Yes. Each item in the cart gets its own preparation, and the price is worked out per item and shown to you before you confirm the order.