Fish gutting/filleting surprise

[Rebecca]

Hi,

This is going to be an odd question. I live in Edinburgh with my partner, who is a big foodie and really enjoys cooking. He's been saying for a while that he'd like to learn how to gut/fillet fish for himself to widen his home-cooking skills.

His birthday is coming up at the end of the month and I'm looking to prepare a few surprises for him. I'd love one of those to be an opportunity to go somewhere for an hour or two to watch and learn the basics of filleting/gutting, as physically going and learning a new skill for something he loves would be a lovely birthday present.

I'm asking round a few places in Edinburgh but not having much luck finding anywhere that would allow him/us to drop in on a specific day to watch and learn. He did mention some time ago that there might be somewhere on the Lothian docks that does this but I can't remember what he said, or find it again.

I'm thinking that some of you might have some ideas - either about something on the local Lothian/Edinburgh docks that might do this or somewhere/someone in the local area I could talk to. I'd really appreciate any words of advice you have on this as I'm aware the end of the month is approaching fast, and as this is just one of the surprises I'm trying to organise, I need to start booking other things soon.

Cheers!
Rebecca

[scottish_and_mental]

Hi Bex,
Have you tried contacting one of the commercial fishing boats to see if he can spend a day on board ( you want one of the day boats that catch and land what they caught on the same day ) or as obvious as it sounds your local fishmongers ..or what about Morrisons ?
Steve

[PikeHunter]

you've a lovely name

[dave fish]

ask at the local catering college not only will he learn properly but safely as well

[scottish_and_mental]

Originally Posted by PikeHunter

you've a lovely name

thankyou darling

[scottish_and_mental]

Originally Posted by dave fish

ask at the local catering college not only will he learn properly but safely as well

Good thinking Batman

[cuckoo]

Have a look here rebecca


http://www.filleting-fish.com/

[Rebecca]

Thanks very much everyone, that's a lot of help I'll ask and look around some of those places. The local catering college is certainly a good idea, just a tad worried that their one day course seems to be mostly around cooking fish and is wallet breakingly expensive. But maybe they'd do a taster thing specifically for this.

Also, scottish_and_mental - good idea on the commercial fishing boats. Uh... any idea how I'd go about contacting (or indeed identifying) them? I'm not up on my fishing at all, I'm embarrassed to admit

[dave fish]

yeh college can be expensive its all about the insurance and stuff,its potentially very dangerous place knives,hot oils ,deep fat fryers but you know hell be in good hands

[Paintpot]

Might be a bit late (only just read this) but Billingsgate market in London do a day that's exactly what you're looking for. I think the price I saw was £190 but you get to take a lot of fish home!
It might be a bit of a trek for you but I don't know if there's a similar market in or near Edinburgh (could fit in a bit of shopping I dare say!)

Ian