Project Big Wood x The Salmonfly Project: Restoring the Big Wood River to a World-Class Fishery
Watch as Project Big Wood and the Salmonfly Project work together to restore the Big Wood River to a world class fishery.
Catch'n Cook with Chef Joshua Schwartz
Makes one serving of Joshua Schwartz:
Combine equal parts passion for both fishing and hospitality, mixing evenly. Add a heaping dose of talent in the kitchen to a lifetime of experience of cooking in restaurants all over the world. Season with a contagious laugh and a generous pinch of humility. Serve promptly and as often as you can.
Many a fishing trip has been saved by good food. If the fishing is lousy but you were with good friends and ate well, then the trip gets recorded as a success. You can think of Joshua Schwartz and Travel Creel (the world’s first pop up fishing lodge) as a failsafe to a fishing adventure. Fishing is never a guarantee (remember the adage about why it is called ‘fishing’ rather than ‘catching’?) but he’s got the company and the food on lock. We’ve never had a bad day with Joshua Schwartz, but having him cook up a freshly caught halibut in the boat made this day legendary.
Learn more about Travel Creel: https://www.travelcreel.com/
Halibut Amatriciana with Fennel and Olive
| Quantity | Ingredients | Notes |
| 2 lbs | Halibut Filet | The thicker top filets work best for this |
| 1 loaf | Bread | I used Semolina (sourdough would work) |
| 1 pt. | Cherry Tomatoes | halved |
| 1 bulb | Fennel | diced |
| 1/4 lb | Bacon | diced |
| 1 each | Onion | diced |
| 1T | Garlic nuggets | |
| 1/4 cup | Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Use your favorite |
| 1 cup | Tomato Puree | Fresh or canned will work |
| 1/4 cup | Best Foods Mayo | Homemade Mayo will work too |
| 8 each | Pitted Kalamata Olives | Minced |
| 2 each | Anchovy Fillet | Minced |
| 1T | Fennel Fronds | Chopped fine |
| 2T | Curley Parsley | Chopped fine |
| 1 tsp | Fennel Pollen | |
| 2 each | Wild Fennel Flower Clusters | Trim off flowers for garnish |
| Quantity | Equipment |
| 1 each | Heavy cast iron pan |
| 1 each | Knife and board |
| 1 each | Rubber spatula |
| 1 each | Metal spatula |
| 1 each | Serving spoon / demi tasse spoon |
| 1 each | Small mixing bowl |
Procedure:
Cut Bread into thick slices. Pour oil in Cast iron and toast bread over medium heat till golden brown. Place toasted bread in serving dishes. In remaining oil, sear halibut until golden brown on one side. Do not cook all the way. Remove halibut from pan and let rest on the toasted bread. Add bacon to pan and cook until it starts to brown. Add fennel and onions and cook until tender over low heat. Add garlic and fennel pollen and raise heat. Add tomatoes skin side down to blister. Finish with tomato puree and simmer. Add fish back into the pan to heat and finish cooking. Remove halibut as it begins to flake. Place on the toasted bread. Add parsley and cook sugo till desired thickness. Brothy or thick all tastes yummy it’s up to you. In small bowl mix mayonnaise, chopped olives, minced anchovies, and minced fennel fronds. Season to taste and place a dollop on the fish. Finish dish with wild fennel flowers and a drizzle of olive oil if you like.
Halibut Ceviche
| Quantity | Ingredients | Notes |
| 1 lb | Halibut | Use trim and thin filets |
| 2 cups | Rice Wine Vinegar | Unseasoned |
| 1 each | Valencia Orange | Juice |
| 2 each | Limes | Juice |
| 2 each | Firm Plums | Diced (substitute any stone fruit or applies) |
| 1/4 cup | Red Onion | Diced |
| 1/2 | English Cucumber | Peeled/Deseeded/Diced |
| 1 each | Jalapeno | De-seeded/Minced |
| 1/2 | Red Pepper | De-seeded/Diced |
| 1/4 cup | Lemon Oil | Olive Oil will do for substitute |
| 4T | Cilantro | Washed and chopped/small stems are ok |
| 1/2 tsp | Cumin | Ground |
| To taste | Salt | Diamond Kosher |
| To taste | Josh Spice |
| Quantity | Equipment |
| 1 each | Lime press |
| 1 each | Sharp knife |
| 2 each | Small mixing bowls |
| 1 each | Peeler |
| 1 each | Spoon |
Procedure:
Dice Halibut trim, place in mixing bowl and pour Rice Vinegar over top. Mix well and cover. Let this sit for a minimum of 4 hours maximum of 24.
In separate mixing bowl combine diced vegetables and Plums. Add Citrus Juice, Oil, and seasonings.
Drain fish when you are ready to finish ceviche. Add fish to the dressed vegetables. Finish with Cilantro and adjust seasoning.
Enjoy with Saltines or Tortilla chips and your favorite Hot Sauce
Josh Spice
| Quantity | Ingredients | Notes |
| 20 g. | Cumin | Whole |
| 20 g. | Coriander | Whole |
| 10 g. | Fennel Seed | Whole |
| 10 g. | Cayenne | Ground |
| 20 g. | Black Pepper | Whole |
| 200 g. | Paprika | Ground Hungarian Sweet |
| 80 g. | Salt | Diamond Kosher |
| Quantity | Equipment |
| 1 each | Heavy Bottom Saute Pan |
| 1 each | Spice Grinder |
| 1 each | Mesh Strainer |
| 1 each | Medium Mason Jar |
Procedure:
Toast all WHOLE spices in pan till toasty and aromatic. Grind until fine and strain through mesh strainer. Push through as much as possible by rubbing with spoon. Add Cayenne, Paprika and Salt (do not grind with these ingredients). Store in Mason Jar
