We used to sing "Molly Malone" at school in music lessons. Did you?
When I was a child, we would visit the family in Leigh On Sea, and my Mum would treat herself to a pint cup of cockles down at the sea front. They were dressed in vinegar - and she loved them. I found the whole idea awful, and refused to taste them.
I never wanted to eat mussels either. Then I married Bob, and he is half Belgian. He loves "moules et frites" - somewhere in the last 40 years I finally tried them, and now I too really enjoy a bowl of mussels [with chips, and mayo, and a hunk of baguette to mop up the broth]
I read that the Essex cockle fishers are trying to revive our interest in their shellfish. About 45% of their catch is exported to Spain - and the UK cockle industry is valued at about £10M annually, half of which comes from the Thames Estuary. Should we all be eating more of these? 80% of the fish we eat is from the "Big Five" - cod, haddock, tuna, prawns and salmon, says the Marine Stewardship Council. They want to prioritise 'locally sourced' fish. They're putting blue 'ecolabels' on sustainably sourced products and running a campaign called "Buy Blue, Protect Dinner" This started last September apparently, and promoted Norfolk Brown Shrimps [sorry, MSC that one completely passed me by!] and other fishy dishes
Maybe I should ask the Bunnings Man on Dereham Market. They sell cockles caught off the Norfolk Coast. Mind you, this fish doesn't come cheap - cockles are £18 per kilo, twice the price of Scottish Mussels.
If I stick to the Flemish speciality, which we both enjoy, am I being shelfish?
I love mussels, and clams in pasta alla vongole, but do not like cockles, winkles or whelks all a bit rubbery and I dislike malt vinegar. I like most other fish and we have just come back from a holiday in The Netherlands where we enjoyed some delicious smoked eel which was set wateringly expensive but delicious on dark rye bread with lots of lemon juice. Your shelfish joke made me chuckle. Regards Sue H
I had smoked eeel at a wedding reception once, and enjoyed it. But it is Very Expensive. I'm not keen fish soaked in vinegar either. (but happy to sprinkle some on my fish'n'chips at the seaside)
I do remember the song, and I like the Dubliners music. Moule et frites is a favourite of my oh too. As a child I would eat cockles but don’t think I fancy them now. Good old fish n chips for me! Alison in Devon x
I have never eaten any shellfish in my whole life. I remember when I was dating my first husband we bought a tub of winkles in the pub (they used to come round selling them in Manchester pubs on a Saturday night), and we both sat there looking at them until it was time to go home. It was probably a good thing we didn't eat them actually as we found out a couple of years later that he had developed an allergy to all fish.
No, you are are not being shelfish ... although you are very guilty of debatable puns. ;-)
My OH loves fish of any description, whilst I will only eat scampi or fish fingers. I buy him the packs of mussels from Aldi and a crusty baguette and he's very happy to eat that. Xx
I remember, as a child, walking down Blackpool Prom with a pot of cockles (in vinegar), eating them with a cocktail stick. sometimes they actually tasted a bit gritty but I still like them
Our son and daughter-in-law are keen on mussels but I'm not, and yet as a child I remember enjoying winkles, and I'd still eat those if I got the chance!
I'm allergic to mussels so I'm cautious of trying other shellfish like that in case I get a reaction.
ReplyDeleteThat's wise Kezzie
DeleteI love mussels, and clams in pasta alla vongole, but do not like cockles, winkles or whelks all a bit rubbery and I dislike malt vinegar. I like most other fish and we have just come back from a holiday in The Netherlands where we enjoyed some delicious smoked eel which was set wateringly expensive but delicious on dark rye bread with lots of lemon juice. Your shelfish joke made me chuckle. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteI had smoked eeel at a wedding reception once, and enjoyed it. But it is Very Expensive. I'm not keen fish soaked in vinegar either. (but happy to sprinkle some on my fish'n'chips at the seaside)
DeleteI found myself humming that as I read your post!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you sung it with children in school
DeleteI've eaten cockles since I was a child and loved them, but a gill (or even half a gill) was all I could manage!
ReplyDeleteA gill? That's an imperial unit you don't hear mentioned much now. 4 gills to a pint. Just under 150ml
DeleteI don't like either cockles or mussels, but, I did learn the song when I was in school! :)
ReplyDelete🎶🐟🎶🐟🎶🐟
DeleteI do remember the song, and I like the Dubliners music. Moule et frites is a favourite of my oh too. As a child I would eat cockles but don’t think I fancy them now. Good old fish n chips for me!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I love to walk along the seafront on a summer evening with a portion of chips 🍟
DeleteI wonder how clean the water is in the Thames estuary. We enjoy moules et frites but have never fancied cockles.
ReplyDeleteI suspect it may have been cleaner 60 years ago,but I don't know
DeleteI have never eaten any shellfish in my whole life. I remember when I was dating my first husband we bought a tub of winkles in the pub (they used to come round selling them in Manchester pubs on a Saturday night), and we both sat there looking at them until it was time to go home. It was probably a good thing we didn't eat them actually as we found out a couple of years later that he had developed an allergy to all fish.
ReplyDeleteNo, you are are not being shelfish ... although you are very guilty of debatable puns. ;-)
😉
ReplyDeleteMy OH loves fish of any description, whilst I will only eat scampi or fish fingers. I buy him the packs of mussels from Aldi and a crusty baguette and he's very happy to eat that. Xx
ReplyDeleteThe Aldi vac packed mussels are very convenient and good value.
DeleteI remember, as a child, walking down Blackpool Prom with a pot of cockles (in vinegar), eating them with a cocktail stick. sometimes they actually tasted a bit gritty but I still like them
ReplyDeleteI've never been keen on cockles. I do hope your housing situation is getting sorted .
DeleteOur son and daughter-in-law are keen on mussels but I'm not, and yet as a child I remember enjoying winkles, and I'd still eat those if I got the chance!
ReplyDeleteDo you remember 'winkle picker' shoes with pointy toes?
Delete