yes, it is a seasonal thing. Last week the first bucket with fresh
'maatjesharing' was sold and that is the start of the season. The
herring is caught in the Northsea & Eastsea in this period while it is
at its fattiest.
The herring, called 'Hollanse nieuwe' is ripened: after the gills,
throat and intestines except for the pancreas are removed it is kept in
salt over a period. Apparently the pancreas contains enzymes that play
a part in developing the taste.
The way the 'Hollanse nieuwe' is eaten is indeed with chopped raw
onions and traditionally like in this pictu
http://www.waasdorp.nl/images/vishan...ngWaasdorp.jpg
Being dutch I was eager to make sushi with it. I made it last week and
I liked it as sushi.
I put it on my web-log, but it is dutch though:
http://sushi.web-log.nl/log/2690633

Mike