Oriental, NC/ Croakertown, USA
Their newest hot spot is the Croakertown Coffee Company. This is a specialty coffee roasting company started by my daughter. You can read about it at www.croakertowncoffee.com. They also have a facebook page. The logo that appears on their tee shirts, mugs, and labels, is a croaker, which is the point of my blog this morning.
“What’s a croaker?” the family all asked when she announced the name. A croaker is an East Coast fish known to watermen as Atlantic Croakers. They are silver-gold in color, and they make croaking noises when landed. They feed in schools, making it a good fish for youngsters to learn, they are small, easy to clean and fillet, have a light sweet taste, and fit in a fry pan. Oriental’s nickname is Croakertown.
We were in Croakertown, uh, Oriental, over the weekend for their Croakertown Festival. I saw more dragons than croakers, but Charlie, a volunteer fireman who drove one of the fire vehicles, ordered a croaker sandwich for lunch. Dragons and dragon boats, sailboats with kids from sailing camps, and of course the Shriners, rounded out the parade lead by the Marine Band. Sally offered a free bag of her Best Roast on the Coast to anyone seen wearing a Croakertown Coffee tee shirt.
So what does one do with a croaker who’s croaked? This is what they do in Croakertown:
Oriental Pan-Fried Croaker
Rinse gilled, scaled & headed croaker fish & pat dry with paper towel. Drizzle with lemon juice.
Mix 1 cup cornmeal, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper. Place fish one at a time in bowl and coat.
Heat ½ cup vegetable oil in cast-iron pan over medium high heat. Place fish in pan, without overcrowding.
Cook 3-5 minutes until bottom side turns brown. Turn carefully. Cook 3-5 minutes until brown.
Remove from pan and drain on paper towel.
Sprinkle with lemon juice and fresh chopped herbs.