Haddock with Peach and Pepper Salsa

Lean, mild haddock tops the list when Maritimers choose fish. This dish, with its colourful mosaic of seasonal produce, is featured at the Lodge and is adapted from the version published in New Flavours: Lighter and Healthier Fine Dining at Home (Formac Publishing, 1997) by Elaine Elliot and Virginia Lee. You can also use cod or halibut.

Roasted Sole Fillets

Lean fish, such as sole and cod, are low in fat and high in protein. They are generally less expensive than fatty fish, such as trout and salmon, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids. When it's on sale, try trout or salmon as an alternative to sole. Serve with Whole Grain Rice with Broccoli which is rich in nutrients and fibre.

Grilled Fish and Vegetable Soup (Diningding)

Diningding (pronounced with short "i"s as in "thing") is an Ilocano specialty from northern Philippines, where vegetables and fish play the largest role in cuisine. Use this recipe as a guideline and vary the vegetables according to availability and freshness. In Canada, black cod (sablefish), salmon or halibut are especially good for diningding, but freshwater fish, such as pickerel or whitefish, also makes a tasty dish.

Bola with Ham

The Douro region is well known for bola, an olive-oil-based pastry filled with onions and ham, meat or salt cod, and served as an hors d'oeuvre. Presunto, Portuguese cured ham, is most similar to Spain's serrano ham. If you can't find either, use a dry-cured or smoked ham. The dough is oily and soft but quite easy to handle.

Shore Lunch-Style Fried Whitefish

Northwest Territories

Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories is a destination for fishermen from around the world. A shore lunch of fresh-caught fish is a must when fishing in N.W.T. In this version of the classic shore lunch, inspired by Greg Robertson of Bluefish Services, whole wheat flour replaces all-purpose flour and a touch of cornmeal adds a pleasant crunch to the coating. Use the freshest firm white-fleshed fish you can find, such as whitefish, pickerel, halibut or cod.

Grilled Miso-Marinated Sablefish on Baby Greens

This recipe is from Sooke Harbour House near Victoria, rated the world's second-best country inn in 2000 by Gourmet magazine. Sinclair Philip, the chef and proprietor, and his kitchen crew, including head chef Edward Tuson, the creator of this recipe, are known for their dedication to local fresh produce and seafood. For the miso paste here, they recommend one from Denman Island, one of the northern Gulf Islands. Sablefish, also known as black cod, comes from the cold waters of the northwest Pacific. Because it may be difficult to buy outside the West Coast, substitute Atlantic halibut.

Pesce Fritto with Saratoga Chips

Fritto Misto

In keeping with Italian tradition, Giustina Fernandes, mother of Canadian Living Test Kitchen staffer Emily Richards, serves this batter-coated deep-fried fish and seafood with lemon wedges every Christmas Eve.

Fish Cakes With Lemon Mayonnaise

The atmosphere at The Economy Shoe Shop on Argyle Street in Halifax is über-fun and laid-back. They serve these home-style cakes as an appetizer, but they're substantial enough for a main course, especially when accompanied by a green salad and a fantastic local beer such as Propeller Bitter Ale.

Mini Fish and Vegetable Pies

Ramekins filled with bubbling creamy sauce, flaky mild fish and fluffy mashed potatoes are the epitome of comfort. For a twist, substitute sweet potatoes for the russets, following the same cooking instructions.