whole fish dinner

I got this beautiful whole fish from San Miguel Seafood at downtown Farmers' Market today. It was given to me to try. Roberto never failed me. He always brings in the best of the coast to the market and local restaurants. I was so excited to see it and so was my son. He asked if he could eat the eyes.

I had no idea what to make but I knew I was definitely cooking it the same day it arrived. I brought it home and I didn't go to the grocery store. If you know me, I haven't cooked at home for so long. Cooking for a living makes cooking for yourself at home seems exhausting. I usually cook dinner at the restaurant and then bring them home. So, what I have to cook that fish with was up in the air when I left the restaurant at 2 pm.

I didn't need a recipe. The fish this fresh will be good with just salt and pepper. But I had to challenge my culinary expertise. I got some rosemary from the front yard, some mint from the backyard. I threw in some leftover garlic and onions that my dad left in the fridge before he left a couple of weeks ago. Saw a lime in there so I sliced it and threw that in too. No olive oil in sight, I used vegetable oil to rub it with salt and pepper. Pepper was not even freshly ground but who had time to do that.

I rubbed the fish inside out,stuffed it with what I had and threw the rest on and under it. Wrapped with parchment paper and baked at 350 F for 45 minutes. That was my dinner, fresh from the coast. The fish is gone, in case you wonder.