There’s time for little else when we have so much fish to fry

‘Shellfish are the prime cause of the decline of morals and the adaptation of an extravagant lifestyle. Indeed of the whole realm of Nature the sea is in many ways the most harmful to the stomach, with its great variety of tasty fish.’

Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79)

Is there a better indoor activity than scooping out oysters from their comfortable beds and reaching out every now and then for a glass of Pinot? October is the perfect month for such hard work — there are plenty of holidays and more fresh seafood than you can dedicate your holiday to.

The fish markets in Mumbai cater very well to our appetite for seafood. From exotic crustaceans in wine to fried Bombay Ducks, there’s all that a sea-foodie’s dreams are made of. Truly, if it weren’t for the sea, Mumbai wouldn’t be such a food destination.

Wasabi at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Apollo Bunder, is the second seafood rich place in the city (the first is the ocean, of course). “I dine here as often as I can afford to eat and end up with my palate singing (and wallet stinging). Go for the delicate and subtle Chilean Sea Bass, Oyster Foie Gras, full-bodied flavoured Lobster Espice and Rock Shrimp Tempura. Superlative raw sliced fish ‘Sashimi’ and exquisite Maki and Nigiri Sushi. There are 28 varieties of fish,” says food critic Rashmi Uday Singh. Another good name in Japanese food is Tetsuma where the Crab Harumaki, Prawn tempura and Scallops are dishes to go for on the menu.

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