Why should I call an illish – the hilsa? I wouldn't, I am a Bong. Why should I not romance it long past it's prime season for eating? I wouldn't, I am a Bong.
I recently read a long scientific article about the reasons behind the unique taste of illish. The author mentioned a lot of fatty acids and other chemicals that almost killed the romance that most Bongs have with illish. After all, who wants to find out the science behind poetry? Not me. We Bengalis are a crazy lot when in comes to fish, specially the illish. And I aim to be that crazy Bong who dreams illish recipes, argues that economic embargo between two neighbouring countries should be negotiated on basis of the illish, tracks prices like a wall street vulture, searches the web for poems/stories written on illish and feels delighted at finding a few.
8. Serve with steamed white rice.