In fishmongers. A type of badge is attached at the base of the head of line hake to guarantee their origin and quality.
A Spanish delight, hake is considered a treat in France due to its succulent flesh and delicious flavour. Found all along the French Atlantic coast this fish usually stays in deep waters (100 to 200 m and more) and comes to the surface to feed.
What makes the Saint-Jean-de-Luz Line hake special, which is commercially sold through the Coopérative Pêcheurs d’Aquitaine, is the way in which it is caught. Line fished during the day, the hake are brought back alive on board without undergoing any processing and delivered within just a few hours, to the St Jean de Luz/Ciboure auction. Due to its exceptional quality, this product is highly sought after by fishmongers and restaurateurs alike. The other important fact about this fish is its fishing location: the Fosse de Capbreton in the Bay of Biscay. Measuring between 30 cm and 1 metre, the smaller variety of this fish is known as ‘merluchon’.
Saint-Jean-de-Luz line hake can be identified in fishmongers by branding presented as a tag attached to the fish’s head by the fisherman.
Discover a sample product created by Gourmets de France on video by clicking here!
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