Fishes Of Iraq: Dinnertime
The latest from LTC Bob.
Fishing has begun again here at the Boathouse in Camp Victory. As many of you may remember, we did fish a bit last go around, and caught a few. There are several kinds of fish here – some are pretty disgusting – some kind of little catfish that looks more like a snake than a fish, and some others with huge teeth that resembles a bowfin which seem pretty gross to me, but not to everyone evidently – although I do respect a species that’s managed to hang on for 150 M years!!
Anyway, here at Bldg 36 it’s mainly a carp show. Carp are considered a food fish here and in most of Europe, and I have tasted some smoked carp that a local guy had last time and it was quite good.
CDR Jeff Hicks, USN, is here with us as our Facilities Chief. Last go around, he worked at another HQ: Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq, MNSTC-I, commanded by then LTG Petraeus.
In that job, he got to go run around and see cool stuff, including the cookout shown on the above pics. Our Senior Chief Petty Officer who works in Facilities caught a carp yesterday and Jeff dug up the photos. Jeff said they cooked on the sticks for awhile, then they put the fish, skin down, on the coals to finish off.
The other pics are of a kid baking bread. This is very similar to the way I saw them do it in Afghanistan as well. They stick the flat bread on the inside wall of the oven, let it cook, then grab it out with tongs. It is really good, but of course you have to eat it right away. No preservatives!
Wow, that’s a big fish.
Actually it is not a big fish but it is opened across it’s back, but what a taste espacially with the lovely crispy bread (last picture).