etteltac

Hi Guys, it is my Mum's 92nd birthday on Anzac Day At her age she really wants or needs anything material so I have been racking my brains trying to figure out what to do for her to make it special.

She was born in North London and along with all the great stories she tells, she always makes us laugh with her love of things she longs for. Namely: Jellied Eels. (Yuck!) Each to their own yeah, hehe anyway, I thought what a great present, I will buy her some Jellied Eels and make a full on London experience for her. But so far I cant find anywhere here in Perth that sells them. I have found recipes and I guess if push came to shove I could try and make them, that would be interesting. Probably not quite how she remembered them but they say it's the thought that counts right?

So I thought where better to go than ask for help here. Does anyone know of somewhere in Perth to buy, or over East that could send them to Perth or even anyone in Perth that has bought the eels and made them form scratch for some tips etc. It really would make her day. Thanks guys all help much appreciated.

Fly Away

This cafe in Melbourne has them on their menu. Possibly worth ringing them and asking if they could ship them???

http://www.miettas.com.au/Australia/..._Cafe_Bar.html

etteltac

Thank you so much Fly Away,

I have already emailed The London Cafe Bar please keep your fingers crossed for me, I will let you know what happens. Today there was no luck on finding eels to even make my own Jellied Eels. Of the 5 places I visited none of them could even get eels let alone sell them so I am holding my breath for The London Bar to come up with a miracle. Thanks again for your time to reply.

Fly Away

Every thing crossed for you.

The info I found might be out of date. Even if it is, they might be able to give you a recipe or the name of a supplier.

lapin_windstar

It's hard enough to buy them in London!

One sideways approach: are there any Asian cultures that eat them? Maybe you'd get them at a Thai fishmonger or something...

etteltac

hmm... well nothing has panned out, so I am back to square one.

It was 12 years and 3 owners ago the London Cafe last did Jellied Eels, hehe. Anyway, thanks for your help. Looks like I am going to have to think of another idea to make my Mum's day. Any great ideas?

asprilla

above was copy & pasted from wikipedia.


As for getting hold of the eel itself, why not just catch a few in the river? Go along to your local fishing tackle shop and ask them for help here.

good luck !

copa

a few places near me in Canberra sell eel dishes. None of them jellied. Not sure where they buy them from.

Evelin

try to contact Maggie Beer http://www.maggiebeer.com.au/home/, I know she and Simon have cooked eel in on of their episodes The cook and the chef.

pomtastic

Jellied eels are made from the European eel that spawned in the Sargasso Sea.

I think the eels sold in Australia are a different variety for the asian market and won't taste the same.

lapin_windstar

Tangentially, Heston Blumenthal on SBS cooked eel the other week on his programme - apparently practically the last place in Europe that eats them much is Lithuania where they fish 'em from rivers.

asprilla

I reckon that a european eel might look slightly different from an asian eel, but it will taste practically the same.


But what do I know? I'm making this up as I go along. I just want the OP's 92yr old mum to have an eel pie on her birthday, come hell or high water.

kporte

I think he's nailing her.......

pomtastic

I know, I wish I could help as she'd be over the moon. I just didn't want the OP to buy an eel and jelly it only to find out that it may not taste the same and his Mother would be dissapointed.

Perhaps we need to contact an Aussie fishmonger and find out if they taste different after all, someone who specialises in exotic fish species.

ozhappy981

If in your search for "jellied eels" you happen to come across "herring in sour cream" - please let me know.

(Yes, I have found recipes, but when I make it, it never comes out quite right.)