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There are many cultural variations. Three countries in Europe love fish particularly (Portugal, Lithuania and Spain). Portugal kitchen is heavily based in cod,

There are many cultural variations. Three countries in Europe love fish particularly (Portugal, Lithuania and Spain). Portugal kitchen is heavily based in cod, and compete directly with fish fingers. Is the same product, just more expensive. Lithuania has freshwater species like pike, and specially carps as a staple product engraved in their culture, it seems. They eat also cod and other marine fishes like herrings. As Spain has more km of coast than the other countries in Europe in several seas (except Russia that is also an Asian country), uses a wider range of species including things that many UK, US and Central Europe people would find probably disgusting (limpets, mussels, sea snails, sea urchins or even anemones). Trying to convince a german friend to eat octopus for the first time is always a lot of fun for us, muahaha! :-= In those countries knowing how to prepare fish dishes is normal and included in the cultural DNA (there is not a psychological barrier), and cod sticks are just so-so. Another possibility among many options and seen as a lower quality replacement for the whole product or the salty cod fillets. Here is mostly a niche food for introducing children to eat fish, but there are easier possibilities widely available (mussels in a can, or tuna, for example).

leokennis 6y ago
Unfortunately, buying octopus in The Netherlands means either buying "Calamares" which turn out to be deep fried rubber rings, or buying pre-cooked tentacles for €10 per 100g, which turn out to be rubber as well. There is hardly anything as delicious as properly prepared octopus.
zrobotics 6y ago
What I find truly odd is that, at least in the upper midwest of the US, carp is almost universally considered a trash fish. Sure, it is a bit of a pain to clean and fillet, but it tastes great. Also, wouldn't Sweden and Finland also count as European countries that consume a lot of fish? I've never been, but I grew up around a lot of Swedish immigrants, and fish seemed to be a large part of their traditional diet.
- pvaldes 6y ago
  I agree that carp is not particularly appreciated in Southern Europe. I don't know why. Is mostly a slavic thing, I suppose. > Wouldn't Sweden and Finland also count as European countries that consume a lot of fish? Probably, but Baltic's Sea situation is complicated (there are some seriously contaminated areas and lots of comb jellies) so many seafood is imported, expensive and sometimes of substandard quality. Salmon is everywhere and is excellent, but finding good shellfish or cephalopods at good prices is more complicated. If I'm not wrong the offer is mostly Salmon, Cod or Herring. Iceland has a particularly high per-capita consumption also, but their population is just too low to have a big impact versus the rest of Europe. From my non-expert point of view, the kitchen in North and Central Europe is very Americanized. I suppose than the high ratio of early emancipation in Nordic countries support fast-food adoption. From France to the South is a different world.

leokennis 6y ago

Unfortunately, buying octopus in The Netherlands means either buying "Calamares" which turn out to be deep fried rubber rings, or buying pre-cooked tentacles for €10 per 100g, which turn out to be rubber as well. There is hardly anything as delicious as properly prepared octopus.

zrobotics 6y ago

What I find truly odd is that, at least in the upper midwest of the US, carp is almost universally considered a trash fish. Sure, it is a bit of a pain to clean and fillet, but it tastes great. Also, wouldn't Sweden and Finland also count as European countries that consume a lot of fish? I've never been, but I grew up around a lot of Swedish immigrants, and fish seemed to be a large part of their traditional diet.

pvaldes 6y ago
I agree that carp is not particularly appreciated in Southern Europe. I don't know why. Is mostly a slavic thing, I suppose. > Wouldn't Sweden and Finland also count as European countries that consume a lot of fish? Probably, but Baltic's Sea situation is complicated (there are some seriously contaminated areas and lots of comb jellies) so many seafood is imported, expensive and sometimes of substandard quality. Salmon is everywhere and is excellent, but finding good shellfish or cephalopods at good prices is more complicated. If I'm not wrong the offer is mostly Salmon, Cod or Herring. Iceland has a particularly high per-capita consumption also, but their population is just too low to have a big impact versus the rest of Europe. From my non-expert point of view, the kitchen in North and Central Europe is very Americanized. I suppose than the high ratio of early emancipation in Nordic countries support fast-food adoption. From France to the South is a different world.