Dinner with Julie

Day 199: Smoked Wild Fish Chowder, Ceviche, a Big Salad with Salmon, Fish Tacos and Key Lime Pie from SoBo

You may have heard of SoBo, the eatery in Tofino everyone talks about, and likely the only little purple catering truck to make EnRoute’s Top Ten Best Restaurants (in 2003). We used to visit the truck when it was parked behind the surf shop for “killer” fish tacos, polenta fries (which I have since recreated myself with great success, and which was one of W’s favorite finger foods as a toddler) and the best Key lime pie that could possibly exist. They have since moved into an actual building without wheels, across the street from the liquor store.

When we stopped in this morning for corn bread (again, the Best Ever), they were busy squeezing row after row of golf ball-sized Key limes (named for the Florida Keys, they have a far different flavour than the Persian limes you’re probably used to seeing at the grocery store) for the Key lime pies, and I could hardly wait to go back for a late lunch, which turned out to be so massive that even now at 11 pm I’m still stuffed. But in the best possible way.

So really, it was dinner. The smoked fish chowder was possibly the best soup I’ve ever eaten – I worried that it might be too smoky. It wasn’t. It was so full of thick slabs of fish that I could have finished the bowl and called it dinner. But I had heard about the ceviche (fish finely chopped so as to almost be a salsa, and marinated in citrus juices that “cook” the fish without heat) and couldn’t leave without trying it, and if you go to SoBo it’s just a given that you get a fish taco. On the way in we spied a spectacular salad – one with soba noodles, one without, both piled with sunflower sprouts, and so we added that on too.

Lisa Ahier’s Ceviche

(pictured above – luckily this was printed in the July issue of Tofino Time)

16 oz. halibut fillet, finely diced
8 oz. spot prawns, finely diced
6 oz. scallops, finely diced
3 cups key lime juice
1 cup roma tomatoes, seeded and finely diced
1 cup red and yellow bell peppers, finely diced
1/2 cup chives, finely chopped
4 serrano chiles, finely diced
2 avocadoes, finely diced
1/2 cup cilantro, finely minced
3 tsp. salt
1/4 cup good quality extra-virgin olive oil

In a large glass bowl, combine the halibut, prawns, scallops and lime juice and let marinate for 2-3 hours. Drain and gently fold in the remaining ingredients. Serve with lettuce leaves and fresh corn chips, drizzled with a little more olive oil.

Killer Fish Tacos

(also from Tofino Time)

16 taco shells
1 lb halibut fillet,
medium diced
1 lb wild salmon fillet, medium diced
1/2 cup chipotle chiles
canned in adobo, pureed
1 cup red onion
small diced
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp kosher salt

Dice the red onion and puree or finely chop the chipotles.

Dice the fish into 1-inch pieces.

Pat fish dry and season with kosher salt. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over moderate-high heat. Add the onions and saute them for 1 minute; add the fish and fry for about 3 minutes until just cooked. Add the chipotle chiles, stir for 1 more minute and remove from heat.

Fill taco shells halfway with fish mixture, then top with fruit salsa. Serve immediately.

Fresh Fruit Salsa

1 cup kiwi fruit, small diced
1 cup pineapple,
small diced
1 cup mango, small diced
1 cup papaya, small diced
2 avocados,
small diced
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
2 limes

Prepare the fruit salsa by dicing the ingredients small enough to fit into a prepared taco shell — smaller than a fruit salad, but not so small that the fruit turns to mush. Combine the fruit, avocado and cilantro. Refrigerate until ready to use. The holding time is about 24 hours as the fruit starts to break down. Also note that if you intend to prepare the salsa in advance, don’t add the avocado until immediately before serving, as avocado turns brown quickly.

But the Key lime pie. There are no words. Look at that cream. If only I could find love this pure and uncomplicated with a human being. I’ve finally discovered the secret to a strong and lasting relationship: make sure one of you is a slice of SoBo Key lime pie.

I know a SoBo cookbook is in the works, so I’m going to try to coerce Lisa to share her recipe in the meantime. Check back to see if I’m successful…

July 17 2008 | appetizers and eating out and seafood and snacks | 16 Comments »