Cold Storage Seafood Is Your Answer to the Meatless Days of Lent

It's that time of the year when we welcome summer starting with Lent. And that means meatless days on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and all Fridays of the Lenten season. I used to get by with a stash of canned tuna from the pantry, not anymore. Cold Storage Seafood makes all the meatless days of Lent a much anticipated occasion with their extensive line of fresh premium imported and local seafood for a sumptuous meal at home. As we reconnect and renew our faith, let Cold Storage Seafood take care of the meatless days of Lent... 

For over thirty-six years and counting, one of the pioneering institutions in fresh seafood sourced from around the world showcases its freshest catch of the day for the Lenten season and beyond. From the cold frigid waters of the Atlantic to the vast expanse of the Pacific, Cold Storage Seafood has been the top-of-mind, one-stop seafood market of choice among discerning customers. If it's seafood you want, you'll find it at Cold Storage Seafood. And this time, you may want to keep your stash of canned tuna for another day. As you prepare for the meatless days of Lent, here are some tasty suggestions from the chillers and freezers at Cold Storage Seafood...

Where else can you find premium Norwegian Salmon, Greenland Halibut and local Pampano in one place? Fresh, frozen, cleaned and conveniently packed, you can prepare tasty and healthy meals at home like a pro with Cold Storage Seafood (for more on Cold Storage Seafood and their inspiring story, see my post Step Inside for the Day's Freshest Catch at Cold Storage Seafood from 2022).

With its new line Lokal, you can now add locally grown and sustainably caught local seafood to your shopping list like Boneless Bangus, Tilapia Fillets, Blue Marlin, Tanigue, Galunggong, Dalagang Bukid, Hasa-Hasa, Talakitok, Bisugo, Pampano, Vannamei White Shrimp, Local Scallops, Crablets, Lapu-Lapu, Tuna Belly and Tuna Collar/Jowl or panga (for more on Lokal, see my post Timely Catch: At The Lokal by Cold Storage Seafood Launch in Lore Manila by Chef Tatung from late last year).

The wide and extensive selection at Cold Storage Seafood provides infinite possibilities in creating an all-seafood menu at home for all the meatless days of Lent. But why stop at Lent? Cold Storage Seafood guarantees a fresh stock throughout the year. You can visit their stores along Wilson Street in San Juan or Banawe in Quezon City or conveniently order online for delivery in just a few clicks and taps. Enjoying seafood doesn't have to be complicated. 

And the seafood options are impressive starting with the premium selection from the Atlantic. The Halibut has a long connection with the catholic faithful with its name derived from Medieval English meaning "Holy Flatfish" and it's just right to start the rundown on seafood meal suggestions with the much prized fish. The three types of halibut are so named according to their geographic distribution with the Atlantic, Pacific and Greenland Halibut. The largest flatfish caught on record was a halibut reeled in off Norway in 2013 with an impressive length of more than 8 feet and a weight of  515 lbs. That's a whole lot of halibut.  

On the shelves and chillers of Cold Storage Seafood, you'll find the Greenland Halibut from the colder northern Atlantic. Halibut is known for its buttery soft yet dense and firm texture while delivering clean flavors requiring little seasoning. The Halibut is often boiled, deep-fried or grilled depending on your preference...

...but the easiest way is to simply yet delicately sear it on a hot pan with butter. Like most seafood, butter works well to enrich the natural and subtle notes of the fish. Simply seasoned with salt and pepper and a fresh squeeze of lemon, you're minutes away from a perfect seafood feast at home. 

All the seafood offerings at Cold Storage Seafood are ready to heat once completely thawed, but it's important to remember to keep it simple. The rich yet subtle flavors of seafood like the halibut can easily be overpowered by complicated layers of ingredients or cooking techniques. Salt, pepper and lots of butter should do the trick. And for someone who doesn't cook like me, this halibut dish turned out pretty good. The dense yet silky smooth texture of the halibut just melts in your mouth with each bite, draping the palate with a lingering richness. 

Salmon is a popular option any day of the year, and Cold Storage Seafood has a tempting variety of the coveted fish in regular stock. Start with a pack of Smoked Salmon, and a good bagel with the proper schmear of cream cheese topped with slabs of Smoked Salmon and red onions always hits the spot for me. One bagel and lox is a hearty snack, two makes it a serious meal for the meatless days of Lent. And the best part? It just takes mere minutes to prepare straight out of the fridge or toaster. But if you're still hungry looking for a serious meal at home, Cold Storage Seafood also offers slabs of Norwegian Salmon...

There's a lot to be said about the saltwater fish that swims up the stream against the current to return to their freshwater birthplace. The salmon is an oily fish which means more flavor and high in protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin D lending itself well to hearty dishes. Like the local sinigang. 

Imagine a rich, fatty fish like salmon in a light yet sour broth simmered with vegetables. The natural richness of salmon just makes the local staple a lot more indulgent with its briny sweetness and buttery notes. And it's real easy to prepare at home. 

You can stick to your ever reliable recipe of sinigang with your favorite souring ingredient and mix of vegetables and simply add the salmon last when the broth and vegetables are done. It only takes minutes for the Norwegian Salmon to cook in the boiling pot, but you now have a comforting soup taken to the next level with the richness of Norwegian Salmon. The pronounced sweetness of the salmon is perfectly balanced by the sour finish of the sinigang for perfectly balanced flavors. 

Or you can take out your favorite pan from the rack and a block of butter to lightly sear the salmon with just a pinch of salt. Keeping it simple lets you enjoy the pure and real flavors of the salmon as it melts in your mouth releasing even more decadent notes. 

Add some roasted marble potatoes and French beans with its distinctive fresh snap and you have an elegant meal transforming dining at home during the meatless days of Lent into an experience you'll remember for some time. A slathering of creamy Bechamel sauce completes the dish. And maybe, you'll crave for a repeat performance of this same dish well past Lent. 

Thinking Japanese this Lenten season? Like unagi on steamed white rice? That's easy with the extensive offerings from Cold Storage Seafood. The Ruiqiang Frozen Broiled Eel is the perfect dish for your Japanese cravings. Steamed, grilled, pan-fried or straight off the microwave, you can enjoy your favorite unagi at home and it's a lot easier than you think. So bring out your chop sticks...

From the cold waters of the Atlantic and northern Pacific to our very own coasts, Cold Storage Seafood also offers an equally wide range of local seafood. The aptly named line Lokal by Cold Storage Seafood brings the finest local catch to your table like the Boneless Bangus, a year-round favorite. 

A naturally bony fish with 214 bones, the tedious process of deboning  makes the popular milkfish the perfect meal. Considered by many as one of the oldest farmed species of fish in Asia, the popularity of of milkfish lies with its white, flaky flesh resembling the color of milk.  The high adaptability of the species can be cultured in fresh water, brackish water and marine waters making it available and accessible. It remains an integral part of local cuisine and heritage. 

Grilled, fried or in a soup, the mildly sweet notes of the fish pairs well with steamed white rice along with your usual condiments. From the crisp skin to the tender meat and buttery belly, the Boneless Bangus from Lokal by Cold Storage Seafood makes every meal at home special. 

The ubiquitous and popular Tilapia, also known as "St. Peter's Fish", shares a connection with the bible as mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew making it another option for the meatless days of Lent. Lokal by Cold Storage Seafood offers premium Tilapia Fillets that can be used for a variety of dishes. You can choose to be creative or simply keep it simple with a pan-fried dish with its crisp and soft juicy texture and clean flavors. Top it with a simple tapenade or even chimichurri with a side of cherry tomato confit, and you have an elegant and sumptuous meal prepared in less time than you think. 

Known for its curved, rounded shape with a high dorsal fin profile, the Pompano is a prolific warm water fish found in both the deep open ocean and even brackish waters around the world. Steamed, grilled, sarsyado or pinaksiw, the Pompano is another versatile fish adaptable to many local dishes and recipes. 

Fresh off the grill, The Pompano remains juicy capped by a lightly crisp outer layer delivering subtle smoky hints complimenting its delicate flavors. Or you can get creative with deep-fried Pompano slathered in a tangy sweet and sour sauce with carrots, tomatoes and red and green bell peppers for a colorful and festive dish. 

We all love a good steak, and the craving gets real and even more amplified during the meatless days of Lent (Cold Storage Seafood also carries a tempting variety of premium steaks). A seafood meal at home becomes a welcome and much needed break from the usual dining option. And a healthier one too. And when it comes to seafood, you can always rely on Cold Storage Seafood for the best catch. 

The meatless days of Lent doesn't mean bland or even boring meals at home. Leave it to Cold Storage Seafood to provide countless tasty options for the Lenten season with its impressive selection of seafood from around the world. For the meatless days of Lent and beyond, Cold Storage Seafood is your answer to sumptuous meals at home...

Cold Storage Seafood is located at 216 Wilson Street, San Juan City or call 8571 7711 or 8706 6326. You can also visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/coldstorageseafood/ and IG Feed at https://www.instagram.com/coldstorageph/ for more information and updates.

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