Hey! I’m still alive. I’ve just been having a small nervous breakdown working on a few other things recently and also, also my dearest darling children get a two week half term. That’s right. Two. Weeks. That means you’ve just got them back at school after the summer and found the shredded dregs of your sanity in the inside pocket of that handbag you hadn’t used since August and then all of a sudden they’re back again with their artwork and their expectant little faces and you go AUUUGHGHGHGHG!!!!
It’s fine, it’s my fault for sending them to a private school that has a two week half term and for having children in the first place and then for not having any childcare. What a mug! And anyway family life is really perfectly okay these days, my children are 6 and 8, basically no bother. But it does all tend to massively slow my working life down.
Even getting this far in this post I have had to find Sellotape, mop up a nosebleed, break up a fight, make boiled eggs and administer to a verruca. And that was just for my husband! Then an entire weekend went past and I got up this morning and took the kids to school and came back and sat down and NOW I can finish this damned post.
Which is about Ish Fish.
Ish Fish is a fish delivery service, which sounds like insanity – but in fact if you do not live near the sea or near a good fishmonger and care about provenance and do not want to buy fish in plastic trays, this makes perfect sense.
It was set up by two salty sea dogs, who have both been involved in the fishing and sailing industry for years. They are friends of friends and I disproportionately love them because they call me a “top girl” and a “legend” in their emails, which hardly ever happens these days because people are too shy.
The idea is that you select from a range of standard boxes called adorable things like “Deckhand” or “Captain” – or you can make up your own box. The minimum order is £38 and the delivery price is included. The catch is packed straight off the boat and as it’s all a very sustainable choice you may get a substitution (but we are cool about such things are we not?)
They sent me a box to try and it was all outstanding. There was this pot of picked crab, OMG. I had it on toast with chilli lime and fennel and it was amazing.
The order also arrives packaging that is all fully recyclable and the website has very good recipes and tons of information about where it all comes from and how long you can freeze fish for and just everything you need to know.
As it happens I’ve got a brilliant fishmonger at the top of my road, so there is not an Ish Fish-shaped hole in my life. But if I lived somewhere less convenient for fish, I would do this rather than buy from Ocado – definitely.
Just not in half term when it’s as much as I can do to boil pasta.
Find Ish Fish here.
Spikers get 15% off their first order! Just type SPIKE15 in at checkout.
I do have a fish-shaped hope in my life, ever since the men who sold flowers and fish of equally dubious provenance from the cross roads outside the pub stopped playing their trade. Thank you for the tip.
This is what I need! With a fisherman in the family, I have strong opinions on fish but no decent fishmonger within range. Will be using as soon as possible 🙂
*hurls self into your arms* I MISSED YOU SO MUCH OMG
I used to live in Aberdeen where you could pretty much walk out your doorstep and casually buy any creature beneath the freezing North Sea… Very very much missed, especially as an ex Catholic who was terrorised by nuns into only eating fish, NO MEAT!! on Fridays. Amazing how that sticks with you…
I got a box from them a couple of months ago and loved it. Super convenient and the fish was very tasty. Definitely going to be a regular customer once I get my freezer emptied all of the dubious portions of unidentified stew and defrosted so I can re-stock!
is this Hannah B my sister or someone else
Great blog and thanks for the Ish Fish love Ester 😍
Having amazing Seafood at your door as never been easier 👍ishfish.uk for full range and price list 🐟