Blog

  • Ancient aromas and flavours.

    by David Parham Ancient aromas and flavours.
    Of course we cannot know what ancient smoked foods tasted like. We can guess but we might be wildly inaccurate. So many flavour and texture charact...
  • 7 Months later and I haven't been idle !

    by David Parham 7 Months later and I haven't been idle !
    Over the last few years I have been wishing that I could be satisfied with all the intricacies which make my smoked salmon what it is. But no .... ...
  • One day's production ! Straight off the smoker.

    by David Parham One day's production ! Straight off the smoker.
    Probably the smallest commercial smokehouse in the world ;-).                   Actually it takes about 14 hours of process time spread over 4 days...
  • Salting .....a 'black art'

    by David Parham Salting .....a 'black art'
    I use salt to adjust the texture (by reducing moisture) in the final product and as a flavour enhancer. I do not use salt as a preservative as the ...
  • Skinning and Trimming.

    by David Parham Skinning and Trimming.
                  With time, practice and patience I have learned to remove the fat, red muscle, and bloodline revealing the pure flesh of the fillet. ...
  • Sushi. Sashimi. Kaiseki.

    by David Parham Sushi. Sashimi. Kaiseki.
    For years I have been honing the whole of my smoked salmon process. My path takes me further and further away from typical commercial production an...
  • A Razor Might Be Sharp Enough !

    by David Parham A Razor Might Be Sharp Enough !
    There's no substitute for carbon steel. One day I'll discuss how I sharpen my knives. With time and a lot of patience I slowly reveal the pure fles...
  • It's all about the belly !

    by David Parham It's all about the belly !
    All 3 cuts which I offer are unique in flavour and texture. Due to it's thinness I must devote all my experience to only removing the thinnest laye...
  • If it was a really poor day I wouldn't be standing there !

    by David Parham If it was a really poor day I wouldn't be standing there !
    There's nothing more humbling in Shetland than witnessing the power of nature. It controls our lives. Those of us who choose to lay ourselves befor...
  • Keeping an Old Wooden Boat Alive

    by David Parham Keeping an Old Wooden Boat Alive
    Tomorrow I will get up early and prepare another salmon, cure it in sea salt, make fresh oak sawdust and start smoking the two skinless sides. It's...
  • Not Perfect.

    by David Parham Not Perfect.
    Improving, one fish at a time. I don't plan on retiring. Just improving. One day I'll have to stop. But I hope that's many years away. Should I sti...
  • Relax, Focus, Stay Calm .

    by David Parham Relax, Focus, Stay Calm .
    This part still makes me nervous. I am slowly perfecting my skills. Turning away from commercial filleting practices in favour of pristine fillets ...
  • Flesh and Bone

    by David Parham Flesh and Bone
    I would say that how I fillet is more akin to carving. My knife finds it's way along the path between flesh and bone. It's a slow gentle process. N...
  • Using my senses.

    by David Parham Using my senses.
    I wear rubber gloves.  The knife is more than just a cutting tool. I feel how the knife vibrates as it passes through the flesh of the fish. Scrapi...