Many people think that mussels are the same as clams or oysters.
Whether you are sitting down to a fancy meal in a restaurant or just enjoying them casually with friends, it’s easy to make several mistakes when it comes to seafood. Many people think that mussels are the same as clams or oysters. But even though they are a similar type of food, you need to know how to eat them correctly. Here’s how to do it.
While in the Restaurant
While sitting in a restaurant and digging into a bowl of mussels, you’ve got avoid making any faux pas. Start by holding the shell in whichever hand is more dominant. Most of the time, you’ll see the mussels served to you from a skillet, from a bowl of broth, or layered over seafood pasta. Pick one up and face the shell outward. Then use your free hand to open the shell and pull the meat out. Use your fork to extract the remaining meat that is still stuck to the shell. Be gentle, and don’t stab yourself!
The Secret to Success
The secret is to eat the mussel in one bite, whether you are dipping it back into the broth or twirling a forkful of noodles first. Sometimes, you’ll be given a rinse bowl for your fingers if the mussels come out to you without any other accompaniments. Dip the bread, if there is any, into the broth and take your time with the pasta, switching between the mussels and the noodles.
While Enjoying Casually
With that in mind, we can now focus on how to eat mussels casually. Perhaps you are alone, or you are with friends and family who won’t mind if you don’t follow the usual rules of seafood etiquette. In this case, you can slurp the mussel right out of its shell, especially if you aren’t seated at a formal banquet. You can also snap the first shell in half and use the top half for a spoon as well! Just remember that the beard and the shell are the inedible parts of the mussel.
YOUR SEAFOOD DESTINATION
Costas Inn has been a Baltimore tradition since 1971. You may recognize our restaurant, which was recently featured on the Food Network with Michael Symon on Burgers, Brew, and ‘Que! We were also voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by USA Today, as well as #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal. You may have also spotted Costas Inn during one of our 9 appearances on the Today Show or heard one of our many interviews on WJZ TV Channel 13 with Ron Matz and Marty Bass.
You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for any time eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! You can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube!