If you’ve ever spotted branzino on a menu and wondered what exactly it means, you’re not alone. Branzino (pronounced bran-ZEE-no) is the Italian name for European sea bass, a mild white fish found in the Mediterranean Sea. In restaurants, the word “branzino” often...

When most people think of seafood, they picture butter-drenched lobster tails, fried fish platters, or a classic New England clam chowder. Delicious, sure — but the Mediterranean has always done things differently. In the coastal towns of Italy, Greece, Spain, and...