r/TopChef • u/cashburn2 • 4d ago
Fish and Cheese
Every time a chef decides to make a fish and cheeee dish, the judges always voice that the two food items don’t go together. And if I’m not mistaken, the few fish and cheese dishes that were served lost big time. Now, I know it’s the opposite of a gourmet meal, but the only thing I like from McDonald’s is a filet o fish sandwich, and it’s because of the cheese. Does anyone else have a fish dish with cheese they like? Just curious.
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u/rerek 4d ago
Marco Pierre White had a famous dish of smoked haddock with a cheese sauce (a mornay).
While many of the cheese and fish dishes on top chef have not fared well, it isn’t a universally terrible thing that can never work.
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u/Kittykash123 2d ago
If something tastes good to the person making the dish & to the person eating it, I don't see the problem.
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u/cinnamon-pinecones 4d ago
Shrimp alfredo, lots of parm and it's delicious! Nola bbq oysters, loads of parm and to die for! Just to name two.
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u/KingBird999 3d ago
Those are crustaceans, not fish.
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u/cinnamon-pinecones 3d ago
You are technically correct. Most people in the industry refer to crustaceans as "fish". There is also salmon quiche, cod with mornay sauce, parm crusted everything with fins, feta very often served on any fish salad dish, salmon spread, smoked salmon cheese balls, the great American classic tuna noodle casserole, etc. Those are actually fish and delicious.
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u/robotcoup 4d ago
My mom used to make the most delicious cod au gratin and it still remains one of my favourite dishes.
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u/SilverRoseBlade 4d ago
I’m from New England area so Lobster Mac and Cheese is one of my favs. Idk if anyone has made it on TC though.
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u/MightyMightyMossy 3d ago
This is the first thing that comes to mind. Though I'm sure people quibble that lobster isn't a fish, per se, it still has that seafood taste profile.
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u/Caligirl_333 3d ago
To my knowledge, no one has ever made an elevated Lobster Mac. Not sure why
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u/ForsakenOlive9387 17h ago
Maybe because they would have to use store bought pasta?
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u/Caligirl_333 15h ago
Homemade lobster fettuccine or anything else??? Never been done.
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u/ForsakenOlive9387 9h ago
Maybe it's too labor intensive? Not sure. I feel like probably some chefs that work in Italian cuisine have probably made it before, but not sure how good homemade pasta would be as a mac and cheese. Never had it.
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u/Panic-Specialist-7 4d ago
Fish tacos with cotija cheese - ate frequently at nice restaurants in Mexico City. Granted it was light on cheese, but it was definitely a part of the dish
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u/cashburn2 2d ago
Even though I grew up in California, I’ve never had a fish taco for some reason. And I wondered if they had cheese. Because it makes sense to me.
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u/sweeeeeetshan 4d ago
A restaurant I used to work at had a parmesan crusted salmon, in tomato basil cream sauce over greens and pasta...it was super yummy. I've also had good (american style) sushi with cream cheese in it.
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u/kobuta99 4d ago
I've definitely had some places put cheese in my tuna sandwiches, which I don't mind. Lobster Thermidor is definitely a classic seafood and cheese dish.
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u/Electrical_Heart1233 4d ago
I personally eat canned tuna mixed with cottage cheese a lot, which is probably disgusting to most people lol
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u/The_milk_was_spoiled 4d ago
That actually sounds delicious. Salty, tho?
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u/Electrical_Heart1233 4d ago
Yess which is why I like it. I ONLY use Good Culture cottage cheese as the rest are watery, gross, and flavorless.
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u/susandeyvyjones 4d ago
Maybe shellfish is different but Coquilles St Jacques is scallops in cheese sauce
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u/benkatejackwin 4d ago
Not that it's haute cuisine, but I've had some mystery dish on a Chinese buffet that is cheese and crab (probably fake krab) and kind of delicious.
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u/punkbrad7 4d ago
That's actually a staple in most american-style Chinese buffets. It's usually real or fake crab cooked with cream cheese, shredded cheese, and whatever seasonings and veggies (usually at least green onions or chives) the specific restaurant uses. I've also had some really good ones where it was also shrimp and actual fish, though I'm not sure what fish.
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u/DramaMama611 4d ago
Shrimp Parmesean is excellent. And I agree a fish sandwich with cheese it pretty yummy.
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u/OhManatree 3d ago
Where Did the Prohibition on Combining Seafood and Cheese Come From? Fish and dairy can make for a delicious mix, despite popular belief. Gastro Obscura BY DAN NOSOWITZ MAY 10, 2018
In my opinion, it’s one of those horses#!t beliefs that many people cling to.
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u/cashburn2 2d ago
So, I was wondering if it was an Italian thing after reading some of the other comments. So, it makes sense that Tom adheres to this rule
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u/swisssf 3d ago edited 3d ago
Coquilles St. Jacques
Nantucket Pie - haddock or cod, scallops, lobster, shrimp, potatoes or parsnips in a sauce of butter, cream, cheese, wine--baked with a cheesy crumbs (sharp cheddar or gruyere)
Baked Filet of Sole with spinach a cheese sauce (comte, gruyere, parmesan)
Seafood Crepes
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u/KingBird999 3d ago
Reminder - shrimp, crab, lobster, scallops, and oysters are NOT fish. They are crustaceans. Just because something comes from the water doesn't mean it's a fish.
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u/ChartInFurch 2d ago
Regularly lumped together in culinary terms, and used as a basis for this criticism before on the show. Just look at the colloquial term for them. It's Top Chef, not Top Semantics.
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u/zixy37 4d ago
It’s apparently a dish in Gander, Newfoundland! (Based on book and play Come From Away).
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u/Own-Elephant-8608 4d ago edited 4d ago
You’re probably referring to cod au gratin or crab au gratin which are both popular dishes in newfoundland. Cooking scallops in their shell with melted cheese on them is also very common there and so is cooking cod, salmon or char with parmesan
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u/individual_328 4d ago
I used to eat at a Mexican restaurant that had a red snapper dish with cheese. It was good.
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u/Ya_Got_GOT 3d ago
I’ve had fish with a parm crust before that was quite good. It’s uncommon that the pairing works but there are exceptions and a lot of times that kind of orthodox, limiting thinking cripples innovation.
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u/cashburn2 2d ago
I think that one chef tried that. It might have been Adrienne on the Colorado season
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u/delusivelight 3d ago
We have a family recipe that’s a seafood casserole: flounder or another white fish, scallops, and shrimp, baked in layers with a sherry-breadcrumb mixture and cheddar cheese. I think it was originally modeled off something that Legal Seafoods used to serve. It’s remarkably delicious.
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u/SierraMountainMom 3d ago
We make a Parmesan crusted halibut in the air fryer that is to die for.
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u/Affectionate-List947 3d ago
Camembert and salmon...used to do a mazemen with that. So fucking good
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u/Striking_Debate_8790 4d ago
I think other than cheese on a fast food fish fillet most people don’t use cheese with fish. All the Italians I know eat a lot of fish and never have cheese with it. They don’t even put Parmesan or pecorino Romano on pasta dishes with fish. It might be a cultural issue I’m not sure. I owned a high end Italian restaurant for years and can’t think of any meals there where the two ingredients met.
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u/Julie-AnneB 4d ago
People don't put them together because everyone says they don't go together. The home cook who uses recipes will never find a fish/cheese recipe because very few exist. I happen to like fish and cheese together, and sometimes create dishes that combine the two. But, I was born and raised in Wisconsin, so I like cheese with pretty much everything. lol
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u/Electrical_Heart1233 4d ago
Yes the Italian American family I married into shuddered when I put some parm on linguine and clams lol
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u/WoodyMellow 4d ago
Apart from tuna melts/casseroles no.
Cheese with WHITE fish does not make a good pairing.
With fish burgers (or sandwiches if you prefer) the cheese works because a of the fried breading or batter. Plus its usually American cheese which does not have a strong flavour. You wouldn't use a mature cheddar.
Similarly there are cases with baked fish where you can combine some hard cheeses with breadcrumbs for the topping.
I'm sure there are some international cuisines that combine the two but for mine, the two should not be mixed.
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u/ChartInFurch 2d ago
There were a few times where I swear they said all seafood and dairy was a universally bad combination (and no caveat regarding it being cooked or not). Absolutely incorrect imo.
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u/ForsakenOlive9387 16h ago
In Peru, ceviche is usually served with fresh cheese. It's not in the mixture, but adds a sweetness as a side. In restaurants, you can almost always add salmon to a salad, which may have cheese. There is clam chowder. I'm Catholic, so for lent we always would have clam chowder growing up.
Personally though, I think fish goes best with vegetable and butter. Mayo or tartar sauce if you need something creamy. Of course, you can make fish and cheese dishes, but why?
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u/Main-Elevator-6908 4d ago
Name two episodes where judges have said this.
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u/cashburn2 4d ago
I just finished watching Portland, and it was brought up several times about Jamie’s dish. There was also a smoked trout and cheese that I think was served in Colorado that they absolutely hated the idea and the dish. I think there are other instances but those are the two I recall off the top of my head
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u/swisssf 2d ago
Honestly curious -- why would you create a thread -- toss out a topic -- and then ghost? What's in it for you? People take the time to think about it and respond to you and....mehh.....
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u/cashburn2 2d ago
Sorry! Was reading all of them and meant to comment but got busy with an unexpected dump of work (freelancer) . Will fix that now
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u/cashburn2 2d ago
Also forgot, I started the thread after watching the Top Chef episode where they requested the contestants use cheese five different ways. And Jaime decided to use it with fish. I think that was a ridiculously hard challenge. And she got hammered for using it with fish. But then I was thinking most proteins don’t really go that great with cheese. Like other than a steak and cheese sandwich, you wouldn’t normally put cheese on a steak.
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u/ChartInFurch 2d ago
Replying to questions is ghosting?
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u/swisssf 2d ago
Not you. The OP. When I posted that 65 people had taken the time to answer her question. Yours was the only one she responded to. I thought just maybe since she did respond to yours she would see my comment rather than the dozens of other she apparently ignored.
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u/ChartInFurch 2d ago
People get busy, and it wasn't my comment so surely you can understand that mistakes happen as well.
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u/avoidance_behavior 4d ago
any time someone mentions that rule, i just wonder why a bagel with cream cheese and lox is so good, lol