Cooking live fish?

[Mesnilpat]

I am to be a guest at a Chinese wedding. Part of the menu includes 'Steamed Live Soon Hock', which is a fish dish and a delicacy apparently. My question is, does this include putting a live fish into a steamer? If so, I am uncomfortable with this idea - or is it quite humane?

[shaneystar2]

According to this they tank them from a tank and then cook 'em .
http://rasamalaysia.com/steamed-fish-recipe/
Different culture .Not much different from heaving a trout out of a river and slapping it straight on a fire really .

[shaneystar2]

"they take them ..not tank them " sorry typo.

[mrs_overall]

It is no different to sticking a live lobster or crab into a pot of boiling water.

I do sympathise if you feel uncomfortable with the idea

[Graham-W]

Cockles and mussels have feelings, too.
(But they do taste mighty good with some garlic butter.)

[hc4361]

It is killed and often filleted before putting in to the steamer.

"It is common for Chinese restaurants to display their live fish in water tanks for the patrons to select. The fresh fish will then be killed and cooked on the spot."

http://whattocooktoda...yle-steamed-fish.html

[Mosaic]

Thinking about it, a live fish would thrutch about a great deal if cooked and these steamers they use are often sort of basketware - the fish might bust its way out.....

[jamesnan]

Whilst in the Far East my husband was served a plate with a cover over it - when this was lifted he saw a plate of live prawns, and in front of him was a container of boiling liquid. He was expected to dip them in, and then eat them. Not really to his taste!

[sandyRoe]

Don't they lob live lobsters into pots of boiling water to cook them?

[ummmm]

I don't think they do anymore, Sandy. They tend to put them in the freezer to comatose them.

If you watch fishing programmes the treatment of fish/seafood is horrendous.

[puddle-duck]

Not sure about steaming them. I watched something once where they cooked a live fish, then served it up whilst the fish still seemed to be alive. It was disturbing to watch. I don't understand why they don't just kill them first, seem cruel IMO.

[Mesnilpat]

Thanks to all responders. I hope hc4361 is right, tho I too have seen video of horrendous practice in preparing seafood. I generally avoid eating it where at all possible.

[beso]

We had live prawns in China. The are put an a bowl and "yellow wine" (a kind of sherry I think) poured over them. Visitors are guests of honour and offered the bowl without being told. My wife picked up one from the top with the chopsticks and it flicked wine over her.

It is a bit of game they play with visitors. Then they push all the prawns under until they drown in the wine.

[Mesnilpat]

I have bitten the bullet and asked the hosts what it means. Apparently 'live' means 'fresh', so a case of being lost in translation. phew.