Euan McIlwraith: Tales from the trawler

Out of Doors presenter Euan McIlwraith featured on today's special fish edition of the Kitchen Café to chat about his journey to the Thames aboard the Trawler Amity II. He's joined an expedition to put Scottish seafood back on the British culinary map and writes about it below.

Crew of the trawler, Amity Left to right Nikolajs Afanasenko (Motor man), Kevin O"Donnell (Mate), Skipper Jim Buchan, Viktor and Douglas Cruickshank (Cook)

It's day one of our quest to convert England to the joys of Scottish seafood. Britain's best known trawler, skippered by the country's best known skipper are heading from Peterhead to the River Thames, to deliver the message that Scottish is best.

Jimmy Buchan and The Amity, the stars of the trawlermen series are just off Eyemouth and I've joined up as crew, for a voyage South.

Together with BBC camera man, David Williams, we've been given the fantastic opportunity to document the trip. We've both got tiny cots deep in the bowels of the ship and are mucking in with the crew. We set off from Peterhead with a blessing from the fishermen's mission and were waved good bye by the entire congregation.

This trip is all about seafood: so that's what we are eating. After a bouncy but comfortable night we woke to fresh smoked haddock for breakfast, freshly prepared prawns for lunch and a dinner of fish. Very special fish.

One of the other members of the crew on this trip is a fellow boat owner and we have just rendezvoused off Newcastle. A big basket of cod, haddock, crab, turbot, and monk fish has just been transferred between boats and is being prepared for dinner by a Peterhead fishmonger as we speak.

This is all about a community pulling together to show the best that Scotland has to offer to an English audience. It's also a chance for Jimmy to sign copies of his, about to be published, book Trawlerman.

I'm up on the bridge with Jimmy now. He's relaxed and delighting in the whole experience. I'm looking at the chart awash with lights, gas rigs, sand banks and am a wee bit apprehensive about tonight. These are some of the busiest waters ways in the world and Amity II is a pretty wee boat on the scale of things ... But with three highly experienced skippers on board I should be able to sleep easy... and fresh halibut beckons...

Catch up with Euan McIlwraith on Out of Doors and listen in to tomorrow's MacAulay and Co. (02.06.11) where Fred will be joined by Amity II Skipper, Jimmy Buchan.