I’ve always been squeamish about eating mollusks. I absolutely won’t eat snails, squid, octopus, or oysters. I’ve always loved scallops. But I’ve always been on the fence about mussels,
After avoiding mussels for more than 50 years, with great trepidation last weekend I ordered some at a good restaurant. When I say great trepidation, I mean that for a week I kept checking the restaurant’s menu and commiserating with my wife as to whether I’d have the courage to try them. Yes, I’m neurotic as heck. But the bottom line was: They’re great!
I’ve now told our usual fine dining friends that we shouldn’t go to any restaurants that don’t have mussels! Last night, as a somewhat late birthday present, my wife cooked me a bunch of mussels she got at the local Safeway for an incredible price. They were great!
The D.C. area has at least two Belgian (yes!) restaurants that have about 30 varieties of mussels!
FWIW I prefer them to be deshelled, but I doubt if the restaurants do that.
Just a squib diary about my latest enthusiasm.