PrintThe Catch's Flying Fish Cutter is a Serious Sandwich
I don’t usually jump up and down about fried fish sandwiches. I can’t even remember the last time I had one, but the other day I was taken to new heights by the flying fish cutter at The Catch, a cozy spot in St. Albans, Queens that specializes in Bajan cuisine, the food of Barbados. At the borough’s only Bajan eatery, the Cutting family (no relation to the name of the sandwich) has proudly done the dining room up in the blue and white colors of their home country’s flag.
The flying fish cutter landed at the table with a giant tongue-like fried fillet sticking out of the pillowy salt bread. Nestled beneath the sandwich was yet another fillet. I really wanted to cram both of the crunchy, golden marvels into the salt bread, but I was dining with friends and decided to share. After all, I’m not a glutton. So I folded the one that was already on the bread in half, anointed it with a splash of yellow Bajan hot sauce and got down to business. I omitted the greenery, so as better to enjoy the fish.
After one bite it becomes apparent why this place is called The Catch: The folks in the kitchen know the creatures of the deep as well as they know the deep fryer. The crunchy, greaseless batter encasing the moist fish was a perfect contrast for the soft salt bread, which strangely enough was not salty at all. The whole affair was enhanced by the hot sauce, which gets its yellow color from mustard. The combination of ketchup (a classic condiment) and the flavor of clove helped make the crunchy coating taste perfect.
The Catch offers flying fish on Fridays and Saturdays, but if you call ahead Vicki Cutting will gladly defrost some for you. Or better yet, head out there this Friday for the restaurant’s last Fish Fry Friday of the season.
The Catch Restaurant
114-32 Farmer's Boulevard, St. Albans, NY 11412; (map)
718-264-7600
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6 Comments:
Their last Fish Fry Friday of the season? But summer is just getting started!
EatingInTranslation at 10:59AM on 06/19/08
Oh man that looks amazing...
So does that mean they stop serving the sandwich after this Friday?
Zach Brooks at 2:32PM on 06/19/08
@Zach -- No, they'll still have it on Fridays. It's just that Fish Fry Fridays are a special event featuring live music.
@EIT -- Let's hope they start doing it again; I'd like to check one out!
Joe DiStefano at 3:40PM on 06/19/08
Is it actually made out of flying fish? Flying fish are good bait but I don't know about eating them, anyway they look way big to be flying fish fillets.
redfish at 8:44PM on 06/21/08
Hi everyone,
The Catch is now serving up flying fish Monday - Saturday. Flying fish is the national dish of Barbados. Our Calendar for Friday Night Fish Fry (6-10 PM featuring music by Batch Productions) is as follows:
July 11th
August 1st
August 15th
September 5th
September 19th
October 3rd
November 2nd
December 12th
Our Special Barbados Independence Sunday Celebration is November 30 from 12-4 PM.
We hope to see you soon!
The Cutting Family/Catch Restaurant
rencutting at 6:03PM on 06/23/08
The best thing at the Catch is their macaroni pie, it is the best macaroni I have ever tasted in my life.
dkarupen at 10:10PM on 06/27/08