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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Finding comfort in swordfish dish


    By Carol Devenot

     • Digital dishes

    Food comes in many forms such as whole food, soul food and comfort food. This column covers all three, and writing it brought me great comfort. Our beloved cat, Chibi, passed away and Bob and I have been trying to deal with our loss. Food, especially fish, has become a great source of comfort. We remember how much she loved her fish and how she would jump on the counter where we ate our meals. She would stare us down until we offered her a piece of the fish.

    Yes, I know you are not supposed to do this and she should not have even been on the counter. What makes it worse is that Dalai our dog, down on the floor, would also stare us down until we offered her a share. In all the literature we have read, this type of training (human training) is a definite no-no. Sigh. Although Chibi and Dalai routinely ate veterinarian-prescribed pet food, we did give in at times.

    We are guilty, but we will never forget the way Chibi would daintily chew her morsels of fish while Dalai would inhale hers. For every bite that Chibi took, Dalai ingested three. It was the most fun watching her eat poke. She was a real tita. She would hungrily chomp down the pieces and turn her head to the side and chew as if she had caught it herself.

    As a tribute to Chibi, Bob wrote this poem that I would like to share with all of you who love your pets.

    "Chibi"
    By Bob Langen

    A little homeless matchgirl cat

    Was looking for a home.

    A place of love and comfort

    So she wouldn't have to roam.

    With gentle ways and faithfulness

    Her new life soon would start

    Always grateful for the place

    She won in Carol's heart.

    And through the years we always loved

    Her little tricks and capers

    Whenever I would try to read

    She'd flop down on my papers.

    When we tried to pick her up

    She'd dig her claws in tight.

    In protest she would call meow

    and then give up the fight.

    We might find her on the roof

    Or in the neighbor's yard

    She'd balance on the narrow fence

    And say "It's not that hard."

    She loved to stalk and prowl at night

    Her catch she'd bring with pride

    To show her mom the love she felt

    that was so deep and wide.

    She'd dart across the driveway

    But then she'd stop half way

    She'd wait for me to pick her up

    But look the other way.

    At night this nimble agile cat

    Could not walk up the stair.

    Her mom would have to cradle her

    And carry her up there.

    She'd always go and sniff her food

    But eating she'd decline.

    Then later when she felt the mood

    the little queen would dine.

    Although she had a doggie door

    She knew that she could win

    By mewing at the sliding door

    Until we let her in.

    At night she'd jump up on the stand

    And leap from there to bed.

    And then she'd wander up and down

    And flop by Carol's head

    Sleeping softly I would see

    the cat and her sweet charms.

    Resting in the sweet embrace

    Of her mother's arms.

    Cheeb, we won't forget you

    And you can count on that.

    We'll treasure always memories

    Of our beloved cat.

    CHIBI'S FAVORITE FISH GRILLED SWORDFISH

    • 4 (6-ounce) swordfish steaks (approximately 3/4-inch thick), rinsed and patted dry

    • 2 tablespoons lemon or lime zest

    • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice

    • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

    • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

    • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

    Place the fish in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Combine lemon or lime zest, juice, olive oil, salt, ground pepper in a small bowl. Spoon over fish. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Set steaks on a greased grill rack. Cover with grill lid and grill over medium-high heat (400 degrees) for 2 minutes. Rotate steaks a quarter of a turn to create cross-hatch grill marks (if you want to be fancy). Grill, covered, 2 more minutes. Turn fish and repeat the process. Grill until fish flakes easily when pierced with a fork. Transfer to a platter and serve with tender loving care.

    Makes 4 servings.

    • Per serving: 270 calories, 14 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 65 mg cholesterol,300 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 34 g protein

    Want a local recipe lightened up? Write Light & Local Taste Section, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802 or mail to taste@honoluluadvertiser.com. Carol Devenot is a Kaimuki-raised teacher and recipe consultant, and author of Global Light Cuisine (Blue Sea Publishing Publishing, paper, 2008). Cookbooks and e-books available at bookstores and Web site: www.globallightcuisine.com.