The survey has started: the first herring!!!

One of the advantages of working on a governmental vessel is that you have to spend the weekend in port. Of course it is not very efficient for the execution of the survey, but since you find yourselves in a foreign port, you may as well just enjoy your time!
A great way to spend your time is to let the local people taste "Maatjesharing" (Dutch, slightly salted and fermented herring) and convince them that it is edible and tasty.
This weekend in Aberdeen, on Sunday evening, our team visited Fiona, Berta and Katherine (just back from a day of Munro-bagging) and presented to them a portion of homemade Maatjesherring.

After a brief introduction by the guys...

Berta gives it a try. Fiona can hardly wait! Katherine is less enthusiastic.

 

Fiona's turn... Berta (at the left) is ready for a second one!

Katherine has a hard time, trying to swallow a tiny piece of herring; she actually spotted a bone in it!

Her sister Fiona shows how to eat a herring, Dutch style.

The conclusion: Berta and Fiona seemed to like Maatjesherring. Katherine still has to be convinced by the idea to eat (almost) raw fish. May be next year?
We left some herring at Fiona's for a tasting-session at the Marine Lab in Aberdeen this week.
Happy that we found ourselves a new ambassador of Dutch Marine cuisine, we walked back to Tridens where we welcomed Alessandro, student from Wageningen University, who will join us next week and will contribute to this blog.