After my fabulous experiences at the Seafood festivals I visited I thought it was time to visit a fish market. So I planned a market day with my friend food writer Vikram Doctor. Vikram is nuts about seafood, as I discovered on a press trip to Turkey with him a while ago, so there could not have been a better guide for this trip. But we also had the company of another seafood loving friend of his to help us make the best, most delicious selections and haggle with the fisherwomen (which requires expert intervention!)
So after our morning walkabout of Matunga, we made our way to Mahim bazar, better known as City Light bazar one of the best fish markets in Mumbai. Having heard noisy places described as Fish markets all my life, I was apprehensive about what I would find. But it was very clean and really not very noisy at all. Maharashtrian Moushies or auntys rooled the roost, stern contenances quickly breaking into smiles if they made a sale or if my camera touting self pointed my lens in their direction. A handfull of men were relegated to the fringes, selling dried fish, gavti chicken and Bengali fish. Yep the only male fish sellers in the place were the Bengali fishermen, expertly slicing Hilsa and Rohu on huge Botis.
Smaller fish are found at the outer edges of the market, and larger ones in the middle. I saw (and bought) Surmai (Kingfish), Bombil (Bombay Duck), Shark, Kateri, Mandeli, Modak, crab, clams mussels, Halwa and lots more. I will stop writing and get to the pictures now.
Gyaan and links
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| The entrance |
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| The famed Bombay duck or Bombil |
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| Shark |
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| we are waiting for the spoils - lots of adorable beautiful cats all over! |
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| Pomfret in different sizes! |
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| The fisherwomen mean business! |
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| Prawn lady! |
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| Surmai or Kingfish! |
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| Larger fish inside. |
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| The Bengali Fishermen |
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| Pomfret and Halwa |
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| Fish head |
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| Crabs and shell fish |
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| Crabs |
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| Smiling for the camera ! |
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| Dried fish seller |
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| Gavti chicken shop |
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| And another |
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| Pomfret! |
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| Another little hopefull! |
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| Cant remember the name fo this one but Vikram said it was rare! |
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| THe Fisher woman will prep yor fish for you, scaling it... |
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| and cutting it to specification... |
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| removing gills... |
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| Fins and bones! |
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| And cutting as you would like it! |
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| Modak, reputedly delicious! |
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| Prawns and Pomfret... |
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| Mandeli, Bombay duck, Kateri (i think) and the little wormy things in the middle are tiny tiny prawns, great for making into bhajiyas or fritters. |
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| Surmai or Kingfish "steaks" being sliced for me. Rs 300 for 4 slices! |
9 comments:
Great images almost felt as if I was there, fish markets can be pretty intense places thanks
Drool! My fisherwoman has been boring me with a constant supply of pomfret and prawns. Dying to eat something else. Wish I was closer to this fish market!
Its simply awesome! I am new to Bombay and live in Kandivali (W)...Can you suggest some goof seafood market nearby?
Thanks :)
Gorgeous pictures! My favourite is the cat, she's adorable and plump! I bought some fish from Hypercity today and after reading your post I feel like a traitor :(
Really enjoyed the pictorial presentation. Should publish this in an international mag like National Geographic
Excellent pictorial presentation. National geographic would love it. Makes you feel you are there.
Nice fish markets!I want to say that this article is amazing, great written and include approximately all vital infos. I would like to look extra posts like this .
Nice display of fishes. I feel like grabbing them all. They are so fleshy.
Where exactly is it located?
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