The Unstoppable Shellfish Kick

[Andrea Sloan]

Is anyone else experiencing this? I got oyster's from the Matunuck Oyster Farm table at the Farmer's Market back in December, and it's been a Saturday tradition ever since. Maybe it's the way the steamer's, clam's and oyster's look, all laid out on the ice. There's something very rustic and rugged about all of it. Fine, I'm not actually out there harvesting these things, and yeah, Perry Raso, the Oyster Master (I have no idea what his title is) at Rhody Oysters probably see's more real work in an hour than I see in a week, and okay, yes, my husband does shuck the things- but still, they seem like the foods of the peasants, and at the same time they're soooo decadent.
And then there's mussels. I've never even liked mussels. In fact, in an attempt to make myself like them, I've tried them every year for fifteen years, never with any success. But recently I was at a friend's house and she just handed me a bowl of mussels. Not one to be rude, I started eating. They were amazing! They were steamed in butter, cream, white wine, saffron and a green herb I can't remember. Holy Moly! I went out and got myself a bag, and it's been mussels and oysters ever since. Even my five year old son is enamored. Upon eating a mussel, he mused out loud: "What are these things that taste like the ocean?" I love that first experience with food, when you don't know what something is but you know you love it. Of course, he ate more mussels than I can count.
Tonight it was seared scallops. They were like butter, as the saying goes.
Next week: Clams!

[Andrea Sloan]

It's the indoor winter farmer's market at Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket. It's every Saturday from 11-2 and it's pretty impressive. You can get info about it by going to www.farmfreshri.org.

[Tami]

Which farmer's market are you talking about? Is it the one at Hope High School? My husband got some oysters there a couple of months ago and they were delicious!!!!
Nothing like raw oysters and a tall glass of a slightly dirty Chopin martini, up with olives........

[Jennifer Luxmoore]

I love mussels, clams and scallops! I wish I could get to the farmer's market, but I work every Saturday. They sound delicious!

[Patrick Westcott]

Perry grows a very nice oyster.

As far as I know, he doesn't "feed" his shellfish. They are all filter feeders. He grows them in Potters Pond (South County), which might contribute to their "bland" flavor.

What kind of mussels did you get? Where did you buy them? Just curious.

[Andrea Sloan]

We should do a side by side comparison of the littlenecks with wild caught and farm-raised; that could be interesting.

[Robert Goulet]

Hi Andrea I agree with everything you say concerning Matunuck Oyster Farm. Everything has been delicious and thank God we are not in Kansas, how blessed this little state is if you just keep it real! Anyways, I can't wait to see your impressions on the Clams. I bought them and served them two ways, raw and over pasta with the classic white wine, butter preparation. both where very enjoyable but I have to admit I found the littlenecks a tad bland compared to wild caught. I am going to ask Perry if his growing conditions or the feed he uses is responsible for the real flavor throttling back from my flavor expectations.