dutch herring in gta?

[Lgirl]

I'm originally from NYC. One of my favourite treats there was the annual Dutch herring festival at the Oyster Bar at Grand Central Terminal. (Treats is an understatement! I waited for it every year.)

Does anyone know where I can find Dutch herring in Toronto or anywhere in the GTA? I don't mean in a tin or at a deli to serve at home. I mean flown in from Holland in early June, served in a restaurant.

I know it's not green eating, hopefully you'll forgive that. Any ideas?

Here's a Chowhound link from last year's Herring Fest at the Oyster Bar.
http://www.chow.com/blog/tag/grand-ce...

Thank you!

[dakjek]

Try calling these folks. It's not a big store, but they have a reasonable layout.

Holland Store-Imported Dutch Food & Gifts
2542 Weston Road, Telephone : [phone]

[omegasea]

I have scouted the entire city, and we don't have the type of Dutch herring you enjoy in NYC.
The closest thing is frozen dutch herring...they are still the raw matjies, salted, but not packed in oil. These are called Holland Herring, they come 2 herrings in a pack, frozen, and I have only been able to find them at The Food Depot:

Food Depot International Grocers
Write a review
14 Jutland Road
Etobicoke, ON M8Z 2G9
[phone]‎

A pack sells for $4.49. We defrost them over night, then remove the bony tail, rinse them and serve them with finely chopped raw onion....divine.

My dutch friends say this is the closest thing to the real, fresh dutch herring you're talking about..
Head to the Food Depot...stock up, and enjoy!

[Doctormhl1]

Can anyone explain what Dutch herring is to someone like me who is unfamiliar with the term? Is it marinated? Is it salted? How is it prepared?
My favorite type of herring is Matjes which I believe originates in Norway if I'm not mistaken.
I buy it at Daiters on Bathurst St. between Lawrence Ave. and Wilson Ave.Very salty, but delicious, a truly unique taste.

[jayt90]

The OP is looking for herring freshly caught , salted, and shipped. Matjes may be prepared from herring salted a year ago, and stored. Nothing wrong with that, but she is looking for something unique to the season, and hard to find.

[Lgirl]

Yes, matjes is yummy, but this " nieuw herring" is unique. See above for link from Chowhound's NYC board.

[Lgirl]

Yes, it's fresh, salted herring. The Oyster Bar at Grand Central has them flown in daily. They're served split, with the spine/bones removed, with chopped egg, onions and scallions. As I type this, my mouth is watering! They are, for me, a unique taste. My herring companion and I would order 4 or 5 plates of them each. And if we could, we'd go 2 or 3 times during the Herring Fest. It only lasts a week or 10 days.

Re North Fish and Brandt Meats, do you mean those places might know where Dutch herring is served in the area? Or because they might sell them?

Thanks for the suggestions! If I'm successful, I'll report back.

[Pata_Negra]

one of the reasons why i decided to stay lol... good luck with your search. here in NL 'vlaggetjesdag' is exactly a week from today. every saturday i eat one harring at the open air market, at the same fish monger's stand. every year i eat around 120 instant omega-3. i've got some visual but am afraid it'd be a torture :)

[Lgirl]

Well, I know what they look like. The torture is not having them!

The Herring I ate in NYC was great, but the ones I ate in Amsterdam, oh those many years ago, were *amazing*.

[Pata_Negra]

oops, actually the new season starts tomorrow!!!! sorry but it'll never taste quite the same unless the creature is prepared before your eyes and consumed immediately, here. i'm so spoiled that i'd never eat herrings in AMS ever again. after several hundreds of these marzipan from the sea i know only my fishmonger has the best.

any cheap flights to AMS? ;) cheers

[jayt90]

We are guessing, These are busy places with good Euro connections.
You may have to find a small German or Polish restaurant that knows how to bring this delicacy in.

-----
Diana's Seafood
2101 Lawrence Ave E, Toronto, ON M1R, CA

Chiado
864 College Street West, Toronto, ON M6H 1A3, CA

North Fish Company Ltd
23 Six Point Rd, Toronto, ON M8Z, CA

[Lgirl]

Thanks for your guesses.

[Kagemusha]

I doubt Brandt carries the real deal(a pescavore's dream)but they might have a lead or two, as might North Fish. All sorts of fresh herring in season used to be on offer at the long-gone Copenhagen Room. God how I wish that style food would make a comeback...

[Splendid Wine Snob]

Since visiting and experiencing herring festivals in Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Helsinki, I have yet to experience the same here. I would love to see someone do this...but I gather its difficulty lies in being inland. Any leads on great herring in this city would be appreciated as well!

SWS

[Kagemusha]

You might call North Fish in Etobicoke. Brandt Meats might be able to help, too.

[jayt90]

This is intriguing. I gather these are freshly salted spring crop herring, rather than last years, and a real pleasure to eat like oysters.'
I haven't seen them here, but they may be available.
Many Dutch immigrants in S.W. Ontario and Durham Region, where I live, seem to come from the interior farmlands, and herring is not a feature on their tables.