Dee Randall wrote:
>
> I wish. I've not had abalone since the late 70's, fresh from a fishing boat
> as I recall and once or twice in a San Diego restaurant. I wonder, is it
> even available in the U.S.?

It is available but it's complicated. It can be found fresh, canned
and frozen. Canned is most often from Asia, some from Mexico. Frozen
can be from anywhere; some of it comes from abalone farming operations
in California and Hawaii, some from Mexican abalone farms. Fresh is
occasionally available in good seafood markets or good Asian markets,
and you'd have to ask them where they got it.

What makes it complicated is that there are several varieties of
abalone and they taste different. I've tried several brands of the
canned product from Thailand and haven't liked any of them. Found
some fresh about six years ago, paid a lot, and it was very good. Went
back and they didn't have any more. What I have done and continue to
do is search out the frozen stuff and try it. It's a crap shoot. I
have one source, a fish market about ten miles from me, that has it
about half the time I go looking for it. It's pretty good, but as
expensive as high quality fresh fish.

I'd think you could find a similar place somewhere in San Diego if you
go hunting for it. Or make friends with a bunch of scuba divers. I'll
bet there are some in SD who know where to go look for it. -aem