One of the most-loved fish by the people of Menorca is the Xyrichthysnovacula, the pearly razorfish, known here as “Raons”. In other parts of the country it is called Galán, Loro, Lorito, Bodión or Gorrión. It is a small fish, with fine, white meat, so tasty that it often costs sixty euros a kilo, as if it were fresh shrimp. The best way to eat it is to simply have it fried. The skin is rich and crispy and the meat melts in your mouth. Restaurants on the island include it as a delicatessen on their menus and prestigious chefs such as Carme Ruscalleda also consider it an absolute must for her famous Michelin star menus.
These heavenly fish are very abundant around the Balearic Islands and from the 1 September, the fishermen set off in their “llaüts” in search of them. The close season goes from the 1 April to the 31 August and fishermen can catch a maximum 50 pieces per day or a total of 5 kilos.
It is a seabed fish, which buries itself in the sand. More than one fisherman has suffered its small bites because it is lively and slippery when trying to remove it from the hook (they are like piranhas!). By the way, it changes sex: when it is female it is an orangey colour and when it becomes a male, it becomes a bluey-green colour. A male leads a school of females but in winter disappears and it is still not known where it goes.
The best way of discovering it, is to try it!
