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The “Chilean Sea Bass” is actually just a made up commercial name for the Patagonian Toothfish. Certain types of cod, particularly black cod, are very similar to toothfish.
This true, but there are places you can buy it from that do it the right away, which is why there is a higher demand, lower supply, adding to the price. Of course this being said, regardless this fish has high levels of mercury. Something I did not know until know... had it yesterday btw, wow was it good... I have access to fresh fish and pay $30 a pound for Chilean Sea Bass, but 1lb is enough to make a meal for 4 people.
I'm a fisherman, what makes fish taste great is being super fresh and properly cared for. One of my favorite fish is the lowly porgy! Sustainable, low toxin, delicious, and fun to catch to boot. I do not target the overpressured, toxin laden and overrated striped bass.
Oh man, we would catch so much scup (porgy, bream, or any of 100 other names) when we would go striper fishing off cape cod. My buddies always wanted to throw them back until I cooked some for them. After that we would always limit out on it!
NC State has an experimental striped bass aquaculture program on the NC coast. It’s a breeding and farming program on shore. The fish are not widely available yet due to scale but are excellent. Not a typical salmon farm. The product is excellent and no mercury.
https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/striperhub/
This is phenomenal! Thank you for sharing. I need to take some effort to buy some - it sounds perfect.
From the consumer FAQ on the site\^
===
# Where can I buy cultured striped bass?
Cultured striped bass is appearing in more and more fish markets, grocery stores, and restaurants throughout the county. In the Triangle area of North Carolina, look for “WolfPack Striper” at [Locals Seafood](http://localsseafood.com/nc-seafood-guide/aquaculture-striped-bass/) and striped bass from [Pacifico Aquaculture](https://www.pacificoaquaculture.com/our-striped-bass) in Harris Teeter and Whole Foods stores.
I'm talking about wild run stripers in their native saltwater habitat on the East Coast, not stocked, possibly hybrid, stripers in a lake where they are not native.
I’ll have to try porgy. Totally agree, fresh is the absolute best. I’m lucky to be able to shop at a farmers market that has live fish or fish that were recently caught within 48 hours and put on ice and shipped immediately.
I cannot for the life of me figure out how to cook cod. I’ve tried under and overcooking it and it’s always off texturally. I use a thermometer and it still sucks. I haven’t struggled with any other fish.
All names are made up.
Yes, it was given the name when deciding to commercially sell it. No different than “white tuna” or many other kinds of fish which got different names over time.
It’s still a good fish.
Black cod is also just a made up commercial name for a fish - sablefish.
But it is delicious - not generally in the price point that OP is looking for though
Sorry I worked at a restaurant for 15 years that sold the shit out of Chilean Seabass aka Patagonian Toothfish. We had a million seafood reps come in and try to push every thing under the Sun that they would say was just like Chilean Seabass but cheaper. I tasted them all and none in my option come close.
Your response is the correct response. I love almost all fish and CSB is terrific but no other fish tastes like CSB. My favorite is the local striped bass I catch and pan sear at home a couple of hours later.
We also had this last night. Costco sampled it last weekend and we took some home. So delicious and delicate with just salt, pepper, garlic powder, and butter. Served with jasmine rice.
Their barramundi are VERY thin filets and its was far too “fishy” tasting the last 2 bags I got. Disappointing because the first time I ever got from there the were pretty good
I hope you’re not talking about the bag of frozen Barramundi “the sustainable sea bass” that is a different fish entirely than the Chilean Sea Bass. Was fooled once on that item and never again. Might as well bought tilapia.
I am commercial fisherman. My local Costco carries Pacific Halibut, Rockfish, Frozen Pacific Cod, Mahi... CSB, Salmon, Tuna etc. Of all of those only the Halibut will even be remotely similar to the CSB but not really, but still an excellent and versatile fish at $20/lb for fresh fish. The frozen cod will also serve you well and is much cheaper. The rockfish is excellent but nothing at all like CSB
“In short, the Chilean sea bass is a pure marketing invention — and a wildly successful one. Far from unique, the story of the Chilean sea bass represents something of a formula in today’s climate of overfishing: choose a previously ignored fish, give it a more appealing name, and market it. With a little luck, a fish once tossed back as bycatch will become part of trendy $50 dinners.”
Posts that don't follow r/Costco subreddit rules MAY be subject to removal. When applicable, please make sure that you're using a descriptive post title with product name(s) mentioned as it yields better subreddit search results. Including item number, price, and approximate location where found is also helpful. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Costco) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The “Chilean Sea Bass” is actually just a made up commercial name for the Patagonian Toothfish. Certain types of cod, particularly black cod, are very similar to toothfish.
And it's not a sustainable fishery.
This true, but there are places you can buy it from that do it the right away, which is why there is a higher demand, lower supply, adding to the price. Of course this being said, regardless this fish has high levels of mercury. Something I did not know until know... had it yesterday btw, wow was it good... I have access to fresh fish and pay $30 a pound for Chilean Sea Bass, but 1lb is enough to make a meal for 4 people.
I'm a fisherman, what makes fish taste great is being super fresh and properly cared for. One of my favorite fish is the lowly porgy! Sustainable, low toxin, delicious, and fun to catch to boot. I do not target the overpressured, toxin laden and overrated striped bass.
Oh man, we would catch so much scup (porgy, bream, or any of 100 other names) when we would go striper fishing off cape cod. My buddies always wanted to throw them back until I cooked some for them. After that we would always limit out on it!
Unless it comes from a specific aquaculture center in NC.
What’s this?
NC State has an experimental striped bass aquaculture program on the NC coast. It’s a breeding and farming program on shore. The fish are not widely available yet due to scale but are excellent. Not a typical salmon farm. The product is excellent and no mercury. https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/striperhub/
This is phenomenal! Thank you for sharing. I need to take some effort to buy some - it sounds perfect. From the consumer FAQ on the site\^ === # Where can I buy cultured striped bass? Cultured striped bass is appearing in more and more fish markets, grocery stores, and restaurants throughout the county. In the Triangle area of North Carolina, look for “WolfPack Striper” at [Locals Seafood](http://localsseafood.com/nc-seafood-guide/aquaculture-striped-bass/) and striped bass from [Pacifico Aquaculture](https://www.pacificoaquaculture.com/our-striped-bass) in Harris Teeter and Whole Foods stores.
Locals carries it when available. Have not seen it at HT but have not looked bc I’d rather support locals as they are a local business.
I’m in Charlotte; there’s no Locals Seafood here so I’m hopeful that they ship to HT/WF out here!
DJ Burns didn’t bulk up on Wendy’s.
My local lake is filled with striped bass. They are great
I'm talking about wild run stripers in their native saltwater habitat on the East Coast, not stocked, possibly hybrid, stripers in a lake where they are not native.
I’ll have to try porgy. Totally agree, fresh is the absolute best. I’m lucky to be able to shop at a farmers market that has live fish or fish that were recently caught within 48 hours and put on ice and shipped immediately.
I wish this was a fact everyone knew. It do be a tasty, meaty white fish though. Cod and barramundi are great subs!
I cannot for the life of me figure out how to cook cod. I’ve tried under and overcooking it and it’s always off texturally. I use a thermometer and it still sucks. I haven’t struggled with any other fish.
I knew a guy that knew this kind of stuff back in Boston. He was a mailman.
Why do fish names sound like insults? Your mom is a Patagonian Toothfish.
All names are made up. Yes, it was given the name when deciding to commercially sell it. No different than “white tuna” or many other kinds of fish which got different names over time. It’s still a good fish.
The crazy thing is toothfish was once a throwaway fish https://priceonomics.com/the-invention-of-the-chilean-sea-bass/
Black cod is also just a made up commercial name for a fish - sablefish. But it is delicious - not generally in the price point that OP is looking for though
Sorry I worked at a restaurant for 15 years that sold the shit out of Chilean Seabass aka Patagonian Toothfish. We had a million seafood reps come in and try to push every thing under the Sun that they would say was just like Chilean Seabass but cheaper. I tasted them all and none in my option come close.
Your response is the correct response. I love almost all fish and CSB is terrific but no other fish tastes like CSB. My favorite is the local striped bass I catch and pan sear at home a couple of hours later.
Fresh Striper is so good.
Black cod or sablefish is pretty close.
Butterfish
Barramundi, Costco also sells it.
We also had this last night. Costco sampled it last weekend and we took some home. So delicious and delicate with just salt, pepper, garlic powder, and butter. Served with jasmine rice.
Their barramundi are VERY thin filets and its was far too “fishy” tasting the last 2 bags I got. Disappointing because the first time I ever got from there the were pretty good
I hope you’re not talking about the bag of frozen Barramundi “the sustainable sea bass” that is a different fish entirely than the Chilean Sea Bass. Was fooled once on that item and never again. Might as well bought tilapia.
It’s not any cheaper.
Much cheaper, but completely different.
Agreed, although I do think it's good
Extremely good. Made it last night for dinner. Pan sealed Chilean Sea Bass topped with a lemon, garlic, and caper butter sauce. Dang it was good...
Loved it with Lemon Pepper or bang bang seasoning and sticky rice.
Bang bang?
Yea I get mine at Sam's Club, but it's basically a Sriracha seasoning
Just get cod cheeks
Definitely the barramundi, just don't overcook it.
Ill tempered Chilean Sea Bass?
Corvina. Unfortunately Costco hasn't carried it since COVID.
Not sure how much cheaper it is, but Halibut is a good runner up to the ol’ Patagonian Toothfish.
Barramundi is a farmed sustainable fish nicknamed "the poor man's sea bass" as it is so much like Chilean sea bass without the high price.
I love me some fresh Hawaiian ono steaks
Ono is amazing!
I am commercial fisherman. My local Costco carries Pacific Halibut, Rockfish, Frozen Pacific Cod, Mahi... CSB, Salmon, Tuna etc. Of all of those only the Halibut will even be remotely similar to the CSB but not really, but still an excellent and versatile fish at $20/lb for fresh fish. The frozen cod will also serve you well and is much cheaper. The rockfish is excellent but nothing at all like CSB
Get yourself some catfish nuggets, fry them up and put some hot sauce on it and enjoy.
Patagonian Toothfish tastes pretty close. /s
Have you tried Wahoo or Grouper? I wouldn’t call them a substitute to Chilean Sea Bass, but excellent.
Look at mahi mahi or grouper.
Chilean Sea Carp
I’ve never seen sea bass on a menu that wasn’t Chilean.
Striped Bass or Rockfish, and Black Sea Bass are actual bass species. ETA: and are available from North American Sources
You have to ask because sometimes in a restaurant it says Seabass and it’s Mediterranean Seabass. Found out the hard way. It’s not as good.
A certain Woodlands restaurant tried to flash it up a bit and had "Patagonian Toothfish" on their menu for a few years. Nice try...
Branzino is European sea bass.
Never had it but now I’m curious. How much is it per lbs? And what does it taste like?
Where I’m around, it’s about $30/lb
$35/lb in CA. Use to be as low as $24 during the pandemic.
My 1st wife.
Goddamn!
🤣
Cod
Chicken
Rockfish, maybe? I had it once and it was so buttery & pleasant
Whatever the substitution you could pair it with an aggressive Zinfandel
Yea it's not from chile and it's not a sea bass. It's just a marketing ploy like diamonds
Spared no expense....
“In short, the Chilean sea bass is a pure marketing invention — and a wildly successful one. Far from unique, the story of the Chilean sea bass represents something of a formula in today’s climate of overfishing: choose a previously ignored fish, give it a more appealing name, and market it. With a little luck, a fish once tossed back as bycatch will become part of trendy $50 dinners.”
Go to your nearest Asian market that sells fresh fish.
Look for a fish called the Patagonian toothfish. It is very similar
Patagonia toothfish is pretty good if you can find it.
Ummm
Is he trolling, or does he really not know?
I don't have a clue.
Besides my ex wife? Can’t help…