My parents recently became Uper's relocating to the scenic,quaint twin cities of Houghton & Hancock in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They are former copper towns speckled with the crumbling remains of old mines and wonderfully antiquated buildings that are like time portals back to the era of the copper boom when the towns were sprawling communities filled with miners and their families. Surrounded by Lake Superior and dotted with other lesser lakes there is no shortage of fresh water fish and Peterson's Fish Market is the place where many locals go to buy both fresh and smoked fish. The Peterson's are part owners in the larger Apostle Island Fish Company a local commercial fishing business they co-started with another fishing family in 2006 to help combat the difficulties within the commercial fishing industry brought on by the sales of foreign fish. (there is an article link with more information below.) Peterson's Fish Market is a small, un-showy building and the inside is heavy with the aroma of smoking fish. A short list of its offerings is posted on a small dry erase board and a bowl of candy for customers stands prominently on the counter.
Our order of salmon is fresh from the smoker and given to us with instructions on how to best handle the still cooling fish. Peterson's offers a selection of both fresh and smoked Salmon, Trout, Whitefish and smoked Herring all fished from Lake Superior whose cold, clear waters supposedly enhance the flavor of the the fish. Whitefish is said to be especially good because of its high fat content and firm flesh so if you don't know which type of fish to try first start there. All fish are hand smoked with wood native to the Upper Peninsula and the result is delicious. The fish has a wonderful warm caramel outside from the smoking and the flavors of the wood and fire-smoke delicately lace every bite of the firm flesh, it's definitely worth trying if you're ever in the area.
Our order of salmon is fresh from the smoker and given to us with instructions on how to best handle the still cooling fish. Peterson's offers a selection of both fresh and smoked Salmon, Trout, Whitefish and smoked Herring all fished from Lake Superior whose cold, clear waters supposedly enhance the flavor of the the fish. Whitefish is said to be especially good because of its high fat content and firm flesh so if you don't know which type of fish to try first start there. All fish are hand smoked with wood native to the Upper Peninsula and the result is delicious. The fish has a wonderful warm caramel outside from the smoking and the flavors of the wood and fire-smoke delicately lace every bite of the firm flesh, it's definitely worth trying if you're ever in the area.For more information on Peterson's or to ask about ordering, visit:
http://www.exploringthenorth.com/petersons/fish.html
To learn more about the Apostle Island Fish Company:
http://www.lakesuperiorwhitefish.com/ApostleIslandFishCo.html
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