Mussels, Moules, Where To Go?
Friday, November 9, 2007 10:15
I love mussels. Love them. Ever since I was coaxed into trying them at the restaurant I bussed tables for in High School. It didn’t hurt that a pretty college waitress was the one doing the coaxing. Those were mussels marinara (yes, with the tomato sauce) and not mussels marinare which I like even better.
My love affair continued when I was in France on a business trip and my host insisted on us going to a full French lunch which included enormously plump mussels on a half shell. I can still taste them ten years later, with their soupy, herby sauce.
On my next trip to Paris, for New Year’s 200, I ate mussels at least once a day — often for lunch. I did have one misstep, however, when employing my I-can’t-speak-French-so-I-point-at-what-looks-good method of communication. I ended up with more of a mussel casserole which was actually a bit of a chore to eat and the mussel meat was overpowered by the cheesy mass around it.
At a pub in the English countryside, my Aunt’s husband taught me the best way to attack a bowl of mussels. First eating the meat from one shell and then using that shell as a pair of tongs to pull out the little bivalves from the rest of the shells. And of course, no one had to teach me to finish the soup with sturdy pieces of crusty bread.
When we are at my wife’s parents for Christmas and the tide is just right we hike out to Mussel Rock and pull off buckets of mussels using screwdrivers. It is a struggle to get back up the hill with our loot. That’s where I learned about BBQ mussels. We were outside cleaning the bounty and one of our friends tossed some mussels on the grill until they popped open, dripped a little butter and lemon inside and the result was a little taste of heaven.
On occasion I make mussels at home. I have bought them at Whole Foods, Santa Monica Seafood and I think the best batch I got was at the Redondo Beach Pier from one of the live tanks.
At local restaurants I almost never find mussels presented as a full entree, unless they are part of a bouillabaisse, paella or added as more of a garnish. It’s not so uncommon to find them as an appetizer and I am often tempted to make a meal out of that.
So tell me friends, where should I go on my mussel hunt? How are they served? Best for a casual lunch? Point me in the right direction, my dollars wont get me to Paris like they used to.
By Jonah (see more of his posts). Jonah is the founder of la.foodblogging and also created Digesty, a food blog aggregator and Cheww.com, a spam free foodblog search engine.
foodette says:
November 9th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Unfortunately, I have never been a mussels person. I always wish that I were, though - they seem like such a sophisticated thing to eat!
Jonah says:
November 9th, 2007 at 10:41 am
^ my wife is exactly the same. Not into mussels, but wishes she was (I think). I think that mussels are very much a common man type thing to eat. More so than clams or oysters which require a lot more work to harvest.
That is the beauty of mussels, cheap and easy, but fancy looking!
Drew says:
November 9th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Don’t know where to point you except during February when Lucky Baldwin’s in Pasadena does them in the Belgian mode. Some spring vegetables, witbier, garlic, butter, steam them and eat. That right there is more of a national Belgian dish than waffles!
Oh to be back there with a wonderful little stock pot full of a kilo of mussels, broth and a big bowl of proper frites.
Jonah says:
November 9th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Ok Drew, it is now your responsibility to send me a reminder in February! Sounds amazing.
Labarge says:
November 9th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I too developed a love mussels affair while in France. Monsieur Marcel at the Grove serves up an awfully tasty bowl of moules frites. Dusty’s in Silver lake has a pretty darn good batch. David Meyers’ Comme Ca has an entree of them on the menu, and I can only think they’d be as delish as the rest of the menu.
That’s where I get my moules fix these days. Hope that helps!
Jonah says:
November 9th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I have yet to try Monsieur Marcel, that’s the spot in the old Farmer’s Market, right? I think I did try them at Morels over at the new part of the Grove. I seem to remember them being good, but it was a smaller portion.
Dusty’s is far for me, but may be worth a trip. Comme Ca would be a treat. Thanks for the tips!
david says:
November 9th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
They have them at Fraiche in Culver City. Moules Frites.
MaxMillion says:
November 9th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
I had some the other day, I think it was at the Village Idiot, and the broth was way too salty.
Best mussels I’ve had recently were at Bin 8945, but the people running that place are just awful, so I might rec the food but not the experience.
Labarge says:
November 9th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Yep, the farmer’s market! That’s the one. And they have an appetizer size and an entree size. I’ve noticed some inconsistency in the broth: sometimes it’s a little too creamy. But most of the time it’s killer.
KT says:
November 10th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Also not a mussel person, sorry. They always come in a gigantic bowl that looks like I could never finish it. Plus, I found out once that every so often you can get a batch of mussels that is toxic and will paralyze you (temporarily!). It’s a small chance, but I’ve seen it happen before, and I am now convinced it will happen to me if I ever eat them.
But, my husband liked the ones at Village Idiot (perhaps he got a better broth batch?) I also saw some good looking ones at Sonora Cafe of all places.
duckduckgoose says:
November 12th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Matisse has a mussel night where they serve 5 or so different kinds. Il Soleil has an all you can eat moules frite night. I think it’s Wed., but you have to make a reservation. I like them at Fraiche.
duckduckgoose says:
November 12th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Ooops I meant Mimosa, I was getting it confused with madame matisse.
brooke says:
November 12th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
um.. Father’s Office… moules with curry - not traditional but yummy!
Harbot says:
November 14th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
When I go to Celestino’s in Pasadena I usually request their Zupetta di Cozze i Vongole without the Vongole. Finger licking good! On a sidenote, if ever in Brussels you can’t miss Chez Leon where they have a huge mussel menu (well any way you want them). See page 5 on their menu for inspiration. http://www.chezleon.be
Jonah says:
November 14th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Great tips, thanks!
Chubbypanda says:
November 19th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I had the best roasted mussels when I was in Vancouver. The chef had prepped them with rosemary, chorizo, and pine nuts. It was an epiphany.