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10 thoughts on “Are fish cakes obsolete #8 From Al Bezanson”
Fishcakes, broiled or fried, along with a crock of homemade Boston baked beans are still features at Durgin Park near Faneuil Hall. The first restaurant at this former warehouse was opened in 1742, and was purchased in 1827 by John Durgin and Eldridge Park. Last weekend I stopped in for lunch and noticed this sign – after I had ordered shepherds pie.
Ahhh ~ I thought it might have been Charlie’s Place. Moving from Gloucester, my parents continued the baked beans, B&M brown bread, and cod fish cakes Saturday night tradition. My mother convinced the local grocery store to stock, in the box, Gloucester Salt Cod. Friday nights my father soaked the beans. Saturday morning we hovered as everything went in the bean pot and into the oven, trying to remember where those pieces of bacon were so we could score. But certainly the cod fish cakes were the star of the plate. Mother made them with the potato recipe. I have gone through all the slips of paper recipes in both my grand mothers and mothers Fannie Farmer’s Boston School of Cooking cook books but I suppose after making them every Saturday night for years, the recipe was committed to memory. Happily my memory is of the meal and the family ~ and Gloucester every Saturday night in our Maryland home.
More coming if Joey will tolerate it. I asked the waitress at Durgin-Park if senior citizens were the only customers for fishcakes. She laughed and said “no way.” It’s on my list to get back there, and when I do you’ll get a report.
Thanks for the memories Mary. It’s interesting about the baked beans. My mother and grandmother made them, and they were regular Saturday night fare, but I think we had them unaccompanied except for the brown bread.
About baked beans… years ago I worked with a food technologist for the company that owned B&M, and he told me an important feature of their recipe, which kept them in Portland, was water from Lake Sebago.
Apparently baked beans with fishcakes is an ethnic thing. There is a Portuguese club in Hudson, Mass. near my home, and they make incredibly great fishcakes with salt cod. They told me they never heard of serving them with baked beans. To them the very idea seemed bizarre. Meanwhile I have friends who say fishcakes must always be served with baked beans.
My Mom made cod fish cakes when I was little. I remember the small wooden boxes the salted codfish came in.
IF you go to ‘Vintage Rockport ‘website, there is a story about codfish balls and the old Annisquam Cotton Mill that burned down on Broadway, There is a connection.
Interesting how circumstances set people off on a different course, to the benefit of some who are resourceful. Vintage Rockport is a treasure of a website.
Great walk back and so full of great memories home delivered and fresh too (Sam the fish man in his Cushman truck played tricks on us kids with the fish sounds 🙂 Dave & Kim 🙂
Good Morning Gloucester 
Fishcakes, broiled or fried, along with a crock of homemade Boston baked beans are still features at Durgin Park near Faneuil Hall. The first restaurant at this former warehouse was opened in 1742, and was purchased in 1827 by John Durgin and Eldridge Park. Last weekend I stopped in for lunch and noticed this sign – after I had ordered shepherds pie.
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Ahhh ~ I thought it might have been Charlie’s Place. Moving from Gloucester, my parents continued the baked beans, B&M brown bread, and cod fish cakes Saturday night tradition. My mother convinced the local grocery store to stock, in the box, Gloucester Salt Cod. Friday nights my father soaked the beans. Saturday morning we hovered as everything went in the bean pot and into the oven, trying to remember where those pieces of bacon were so we could score. But certainly the cod fish cakes were the star of the plate. Mother made them with the potato recipe. I have gone through all the slips of paper recipes in both my grand mothers and mothers Fannie Farmer’s Boston School of Cooking cook books but I suppose after making them every Saturday night for years, the recipe was committed to memory. Happily my memory is of the meal and the family ~ and Gloucester every Saturday night in our Maryland home.
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So thanks Al ~ schooner39 ~ for series and bringing back the memories 😉
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More coming if Joey will tolerate it. I asked the waitress at Durgin-Park if senior citizens were the only customers for fishcakes. She laughed and said “no way.” It’s on my list to get back there, and when I do you’ll get a report.
LikeLike
Thanks for the memories Mary. It’s interesting about the baked beans. My mother and grandmother made them, and they were regular Saturday night fare, but I think we had them unaccompanied except for the brown bread.
About baked beans… years ago I worked with a food technologist for the company that owned B&M, and he told me an important feature of their recipe, which kept them in Portland, was water from Lake Sebago.
Apparently baked beans with fishcakes is an ethnic thing. There is a Portuguese club in Hudson, Mass. near my home, and they make incredibly great fishcakes with salt cod. They told me they never heard of serving them with baked beans. To them the very idea seemed bizarre. Meanwhile I have friends who say fishcakes must always be served with baked beans.
Al
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My Mom made cod fish cakes when I was little. I remember the small wooden boxes the salted codfish came in.
IF you go to ‘Vintage Rockport ‘website, there is a story about codfish balls and the old Annisquam Cotton Mill that burned down on Broadway, There is a connection.
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Thanks Will … I found the story __ http://vintagerockport.com/2013/02/02/annisquam-cotton-mill-before-and-after-the-1882-fire/
Interesting how circumstances set people off on a different course, to the benefit of some who are resourceful. Vintage Rockport is a treasure of a website.
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Fish Cakes (Hake) and Beans once a week when my Dad was cooking.
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The evidence is mounting that hake makes a better codfish cake. Check out Heidi’s at Fort Square if you need a fix.
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Great walk back and so full of great memories home delivered and fresh too (Sam the fish man in his Cushman truck played tricks on us kids with the fish sounds 🙂 Dave & Kim 🙂
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