John Dory (Zeus faber) inhabits the waters of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. It’s found in depths of between 30 and 200 metres. It prefers rocky bottoms, although it can be found in underwater meadows and sandy seabeds too.
The John Dory name (the most common of the many it goes by) has many disputed origin stories, but the black spots on its side are said to have been created when Peter, the first of Christ’s apostles, dropped a coin in the water while out fishing. The coin was caught by a fish, and when he reached in to retrieve the coin, he left finger-marks on the fish. Hence, it was touched by a saint, and also goes by the name of St Peter’s fish (or San Pedro in Spanish).
It’s a tall, compressed-bodied fish with a very large head and no scales, except on the lateral line. It has bones next to the abdomen and very long rays on its dorsal fin. Golden or grey-green in colour, it also has a black spot in the centre of its body and on both sides.
John Dory is a semi-fatty fish, low in fat and cholesterol, and popular on low-calorie and low-fat diets. It has a high vitamin (B6 and B9) and mineral (phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and iodine) content, similar to other white or semi-fatty fish.
John Dory should be carefully cleaned by the lateral bones. It’s best cut into fillets, removing all the bones, then battered and fried. Its meat is firm and tasty, and it works great with white fish sauces. It’s also commonly enjoyed in caldeirada stews, or simply baked.
Commercial name: John Dory
Scientific name: Zeus faber
FAO 3-alpha code: JOD
Catch area: FAO-27 – Northeast Atlantic
Subarea: Main subareas of origin at the port of Vigo: 27.9 (Portuguese and Galician Waters / Iberian Atlantic Waters), 27.8 (Bay of Biscay), and 27.7 (Waters West of Ireland / Celtic Sea). The exact subarea will be specified on the product label at the time of delivery.
Production method: Wild caught
Fishing gear or production system: Gillnets and similar nets
Physical state: Fresh (not frozen)
Commercial presentation: Customer's choice
Net quantity: Will be specified at the time of delivery
Allergens: Contains: fish. May contain traces of: not applicable.
Storage conditions: Keep refrigerated between 0 °C and 4 °C. Consume as soon as possible, preferably within 24–48 hours from purchase.
Information on dates and batch: Expiration date and batch number: indicated on the product label at the time of delivery.
