Crayfish

Crayfish live in fresh water and vaguely resemble miniature lobsters. Their flavor, however, is distinctly different. They have long been popular in France and Italy, where they have been almost completely fished out. Nowadays European crayfish comes mostly from Eastern Europe. The United States still has an abundance of crayfish in its streams and lakes, probably because Americans have ignored them for so long. (Louisianans, who call them “crawfish,” are an exception.) They are becoming increasingly popular as interest in European and regional American cuisine increases. Although some suppliers market crayfish tails, these are useless for sauce preparation.