Seamus and the Saturday mussel hunt

So we bought this food wheel a couple of weeks ago, and Seamus has been fascinated by all of the things we can eat throughout the year here in paradise Oz the Bay Area. The part that spins shows all the year-round foods, so he asks about those the most. One day he got fixated on the the mussel.

“I want to eat mussels, Mama.”

“Are you sure?” He nods. “Okay, let’s tell Dada about it tonight, and maybe next Saturday we’ll get some mussels.”

“Okay.”

Patrick and I collaborate really well for Family Day (what you all know as “Saturday”), and once I mentioned the mollusks, we both knew what we were doing.* Some quick research revealed that mussel harvesting in our area was permitted beginning November 1, so armed with a bucket and some one-day fishing licenses, we hit the tidepools near Half Moon Bay.

We got there too late, alas. The tide was coming in, and you do not tempt fate with Seamus and the Ocean. So we picked up some shells, let the dog run around with other dogs, and since it was warm around the point on the bay side, we stripped Seamus down to wade and splash. Then we cleaned up and bought two pounds of mussels from the fishmonger at Pillar Point marina before having lunch at the local airport.

When we came home, I prepped a garlicky sauce from my batch of roasted tomatoes from the farmers market. I know a lot of folks steam their mussels in wine, but I was worried about them tasting too much like alcohol, which would keep Patrick from eating them. So after Seamus and I checked them for cracks and made sure everything was closed up, I steamed them in a little water and doused them in red sauce once they were in bowls. I added some of the steaming liquid to each serving, which mixed with the red sauce and was delicious.

So here’s how it went: Oh hell. I need to upload the video elsewhere before I can put it here. And I can’t remember my password. Back in a few with that.

Here:

Seamus Tries a Mussel from Sarah Holm Norton on Vimeo.

*Patrick and I have this sixth sense. We’re able to immediately suss out the hardest, dirtiest, best headcold-inducing way of experiencing something, and plan it, all without discussion. I think it’s why we’re together after nine years- we’re too busy recovering and cleaning up after each adventure to fight.

Comments

[Rachel]

I can't even begin to tell you how much this video makes me laugh, miss you and writhe in jealousy all at the same time. Frankie won't eat a damn thing, so of course the idea that you have a kid that is interested in Mussels kills me. i like that what really interested him is the shells.

I miss you guys and feel like a heel for missing Shay's birthday. We have all been super ill and i have been totally losing it with work,
come visit me some day for a luncheon field trip with seamus and i will tell you all about it.

xoxox
ray