There seems to be a theme to this particular convention season. After chewing my way through the Great Sausages of Denver (total count: three hot dogs, two brats, one Italian sausage), and the State Fair Meats on a Stick, I come to this: Walleye, that most Minnesotan of all meats (with the possible exception of the hamburger, but that’s another story for another day).

This was my first tasting of the mighty walleye, although I’ve eaten a lot of freshwater fish (mostly catfish and perch). This particular meal was served to me at the traditional staff dinner at the start of the GOP convention, and I had to make a choice in advance between this and what turned out to be some truly sad-looking prime rib.

I sought outside help for the pick, including some input from a native Minnesotan. In the end, though, it really was an easy choice — but this stuffed-with-feta (and alleged sun-dried tomatoes, although I couldn’t detect them) variety of walleye was overcooked and probably spent too much time in a food warmer. It didn’t taste ‘fishy’ and I could see how it might be good in less of a banquet-meal situation, but in the end it underwhelmed.

Then again, I still remember the time I was served lutefisk in Minnesota when I was a kid. In light of that, I should have been grateful the walleye turned out the way it did.