Having never gone hunting or even fishing before, this was a new experience for me. Gathering protein from the wild, cooking and eating it. We got almost all soft shell or "piss" (named so because...
Having never gone hunting or even fishing before, this was a new experience for me. Gathering protein from the wild, cooking and eating it. We got almost all soft shell or "piss" (named so because they actually spit) clams. They were a lot more delicious than I expected.
Right on!! good for you! I scrub, steam/boil them gently and eat with tabasco + soy sauce, maybe chili + ponzu. Have you tried salting for razor clams yet? For everyone thinking about foraging...
Right on!! good for you! I scrub, steam/boil them gently and eat with tabasco + soy sauce, maybe chili + ponzu. Have you tried salting for razor clams yet?
For everyone thinking about foraging seafood, check that it is safe first because seafood poisoning is not joking around. For Canadians, check this handy interactive map for latest opening and closure info.
Beautiful let me go lurk ~ Side question: Do you guys know how to "spot" a good beach for different types of forage-ables from satellite images? Most good spots aren't going to have a giant icon...
Beautiful let me go lurk ~
Side question: Do you guys know how to "spot" a good beach for different types of forage-ables from satellite images? Most good spots aren't going to have a giant icon or website advertising for the world to come, and locals can be pretty tight-lipped about it.... Also, time of day and season? I find that by the time you read things in a book, it's way too popular already.
Eh, satellite might show you the right kind of ecosystems to go check (i.e. rocky intertidal for mussels or open sand flats for clams). I think an easier way is to go spend some time in those...
Eh, satellite might show you the right kind of ecosystems to go check (i.e. rocky intertidal for mussels or open sand flats for clams). I think an easier way is to go spend some time in those areas during the open season (for us it's winter/early spring) and just look the stock themselves or for folks foraging. Mussels are pretty easy as they are highly visible (particularly on low tides). For clams, we found our spot because we did kayak camping and woke up surrounded by people clamming. We went back a few years later when we got into it ourselves. There are also usually pretty strong communities associated with coastal fishing and foraging. A good place to start is a dive or bait shop. Our local spearfisher community is really active of Facebook and very inviting to take out new folks. They are also very generous with their fish. I developed inner ear issues so I can't go anymore but I will often still end up with a few fresh fish each month from folks who caught more than they expected and want to share with the community.
Since then, we have moved a little farther south and clamming is harder to get to. If anyone is in the San Francisco Bay Area (or surrounding area) who is looking to get into it I'd be happy to pass on our clamming rakes (they don't get much use anymore). We're a little drive south, but if you come pick them up I'd also be happy to share some locations for clams/mussels/scallops.
<whine> that sounds like I need to talk to people in real life.... </whine> But yes, I suppose that often is far and away the best way to get into anything: ask and follow the locals. that's very...
<whine> that sounds like I need to talk to people in real life.... </whine> But yes, I suppose that often is far and away the best way to get into anything: ask and follow the locals.
that's very generous of you : ) I hope some other foraging beginners or enthusiasts take you up on that offer.
Lol, I love it. I forage a lot as well, though mostly for mussels as the legal clamming area is a 2.5 hour drive for me. Most of my recipes come from The Sea Foragers Guide to the Northern...
"piss" (named so because they actually spit) clams.
Lol, I love it. I forage a lot as well, though mostly for mussels as the legal clamming area is a 2.5 hour drive for me. Most of my recipes come from The Sea Foragers Guide to the Northern California Coast. I love making clam chowder, fried clams similar to your, a recipe from Meateater and Brad Leone, or a nice spaghetti. I think my go to though is a one of these two versions, 1/2, of steamed clams. They are just so easy and prefect for bread dipping (my favorite part of shellfish eating). In Spain they eat tinned clams over plain white loaves. There are so many ways you can do it!
Having never gone hunting or even fishing before, this was a new experience for me. Gathering protein from the wild, cooking and eating it. We got almost all soft shell or "piss" (named so because they actually spit) clams. They were a lot more delicious than I expected.
Does anybody have any go to recipes for clams?
Right on!! good for you! I scrub, steam/boil them gently and eat with tabasco + soy sauce, maybe chili + ponzu. Have you tried salting for razor clams yet?
For everyone thinking about foraging seafood, check that it is safe first because seafood poisoning is not joking around. For Canadians, check this handy interactive map for latest opening and closure info.
Chiming in with California's shellfish map as well!
Beautiful let me go lurk ~
Side question: Do you guys know how to "spot" a good beach for different types of forage-ables from satellite images? Most good spots aren't going to have a giant icon or website advertising for the world to come, and locals can be pretty tight-lipped about it.... Also, time of day and season? I find that by the time you read things in a book, it's way too popular already.
Eh, satellite might show you the right kind of ecosystems to go check (i.e. rocky intertidal for mussels or open sand flats for clams). I think an easier way is to go spend some time in those areas during the open season (for us it's winter/early spring) and just look the stock themselves or for folks foraging. Mussels are pretty easy as they are highly visible (particularly on low tides). For clams, we found our spot because we did kayak camping and woke up surrounded by people clamming. We went back a few years later when we got into it ourselves. There are also usually pretty strong communities associated with coastal fishing and foraging. A good place to start is a dive or bait shop. Our local spearfisher community is really active of Facebook and very inviting to take out new folks. They are also very generous with their fish. I developed inner ear issues so I can't go anymore but I will often still end up with a few fresh fish each month from folks who caught more than they expected and want to share with the community.
Since then, we have moved a little farther south and clamming is harder to get to. If anyone is in the San Francisco Bay Area (or surrounding area) who is looking to get into it I'd be happy to pass on our clamming rakes (they don't get much use anymore). We're a little drive south, but if you come pick them up I'd also be happy to share some locations for clams/mussels/scallops.
<whine> that sounds like I need to talk to people in real life.... </whine> But yes, I suppose that often is far and away the best way to get into anything: ask and follow the locals.
that's very generous of you : ) I hope some other foraging beginners or enthusiasts take you up on that offer.
Lol, I'm pretty adverse to chatting up folks in person as well, particularly if I feel inept at the activity. Good luck finding the right crew!
rosco summed it up well, but ya we just noticed other locals out there with their ATVs at low tide and followed their lead, heh.
Lol, I love it. I forage a lot as well, though mostly for mussels as the legal clamming area is a 2.5 hour drive for me. Most of my recipes come from The Sea Foragers Guide to the Northern California Coast. I love making clam chowder, fried clams similar to your, a recipe from Meateater and Brad Leone, or a nice spaghetti. I think my go to though is a one of these two versions, 1/2, of steamed clams. They are just so easy and prefect for bread dipping (my favorite part of shellfish eating). In Spain they eat tinned clams over plain white loaves. There are so many ways you can do it!
Thanks for sharing!
Those look delicious. It's days like this where I'm sure moving to the middle of the continent was a terrible choice :/
You guys have prairie oysters though.
I'm sorry!
Honestly, I thought it was going to have something to do with testicles.
that's Canadian prairie oyster OvO