You Make My Heart Smelt

The first time I ever had smelt was at this small spanish tapas place called Las Ramblas. I was smitten at first bite! I forgot who said it, maybe Bourdain? But he said any cook can make an everyday ordinary fish like salmon or cod taste good. Throw on some sauce and it will taste good. But a really good cook will work with an oilier type of fish, cook it simply, and it will taste delicious. I think we the consumers are so accustomed to our fish tasting like nothing. Actually fish should taste like fish, like the ocean, like the type of waters it is from. Smelt bones get soft when they are fried so you don't have to remove them. It's so fun just shoving the whole thing in my mouth. I'm a pig. Simply dredge each fish into some flour seasoned with salt and pepper and fry it up!