Katherine B.
Yelp
What a cool experience - a fish boil! We've been to crab boils and shrimp boils, but never a fish boil
My husband attended this
"Fish Boil" just about 7 yrs ago and remembered it fondly - and now shared that experience with me. ;)
Unfortunately, we arrived on a light rainy afternoon (4pm) - which still didn't deter from the fun time! Luckily, it never rained hard enough to stop the show!!
Lucky us... Numerous groups including couples, friend groups, grandparents with grandkids, whole families with kids of all ages, attended!
As we arrived at the front desk of Pelletiers , you are given a choice of "Fish Boil" (with a slight increased cost to be part of the "fish boil show" or given a menu of numerous other options for meals including fried fish choices, additional sides, drinks, liquors, specialty and domestic beers, sweet tea- YES I said Sweet Tea, etc.... After paying, you are given a ticket which will later be laid on your table for your order to be filled. After paying, you will be directed to the back patio to participate in the "show" performed by an orator / cook who will prep the fire and kettle. As we watched the front counter routine was pretty mechanized but they just got you started and want to keep the long ling line moving - they do this show three times a night so I'm sure it gets pretty redundant night after night! Forgive their brevity - its going to be a long evening again!
As the water boiled on the patio, the kettle fire was continually being improved. The cook added seasonings, veggies and answered questions which coupled with interesting history lesson of the event and fish boil processes. What a great fire!
Food added to the boil included corn, new potatoes, onions and finally 2 lb individual cuts of fresh white fish, caught in Sturgeon Bay that day. Amazing!
Prior to diners being served, each indoor table was set with reusable knives and forks, napkins and mini picnic paper baskets (for bones and scraps). Additionally, fresh white and pumpernickel bread was wrapped on the tables in white paper awaiting each patron. Orders were filled for drinks by the happy wait staff and food delivered one table at a time.
The largest portion of the costs at this establishment may be for the show that may be seen by anyone who eats here. Though it isn't flashy or dynamic like the age ole' taffy making singers I observed many times in the
St Louis Union Station,it has a charm of its own and is very interesting if you watch and just listen!!
Now the boiled fish --
I was really surprised, based on the amount of seasonings and ingredients that were added, how flavorful the fish was!! I love to cook so the mere sight of the amount of seasonings frightened me but boy did they get it right! The potatoes, onions and veggies were tender - another surprise. Im not sure why I kept getting surprised except to say...that proves that you really shouldn't assume anything when it comes to cooking. What doesn't make sense to you, make perfect sense to the cook!! I didn't think it would all cook through, it did! I didn't think it would taste that good- it did! I thought I might see this once, I did!
I will come back again to share the experience with family and friends!