Steven L.
Yelp
"Trout that was swimming yesterday" is the sign that caught my eye at the Murfreesboro, TN Saturday Farmer's Market. I love trout. My family does not. So when I can get my hands on the fresh stuff, I grab it. This review is not based on a visit to the ranch, it is on the food. It is also about the man who staffs the pop-up on The Square. Not much to say about ambiance - it IS an outdoor market, which I guess is fun.
It would not be fair to rate this food on one visit, so I waited until I could try several products. Those were smoked trout, the "dip" and fresh. All three were "home runs" as far as I was concerned.
He frequently sells out so my first fare was the smoked. It was very good. In fact, it was probably the best commercial smoked trout I could get. Now I brag. The only better smoked trout I had was when I smoked it myself, and it was just hours out of the water.
Calling the product a "dip" is a misnomer. It is a spread. No chip could survive a journey through it because it is that firm. One container only lasted a day i my house as I gobbled it up and spread it on wonderful crackers. Balanced between fish, smoking and the dairy, it was excellent.
Just above, I bragged about my ability to smoke trout. Well, honestly, I am a very good home chef when it comes to fish. Not only do guests enjoy my preparations, I have prepared catering dishes for up to 120 people. Many compliments have ensued. I am careful to not overcook fish. You can actually serve high quality fish medium rare. This trout was so fresh, if I wanted to, I could have served as sushi or sashimi.
Baking it (NEVER poaching), it came out perfect. But this review is not about my ability, it is of the fish. Just recently, I have discovered the different flavor profiles of different parts of the animal. This trout enabled me to do so. There was a wonderful pocket of belly fat that just blew me away.
As far as service, the one man show selling at the market is amiable and really seems to enjoy introducing his fish to the public. I see many more visits to his booth when the market returns in the spring.