seashore food

[clive moggridge]

hi all this will be my first post i have been viewing this site for a few months now
and this year i will venture out and try my hand at what all of you seem to get a lot out of

I live in middlesex and would like to collect seashore food cockles mussels etc
and cook them on the beech but i only know seaside holiday destinations and not places of rich pickings.
is their any where near brighton as this is the easiest part of the coast for me to visit
thank youall in advance

[Ketchup]

I see you don't get an answer. So sorry

I cannot help you as I don't know the area.

[maverix]

Thats the beauty of the shoreline, it doesnt matter where you go you are sure to find something edible. where there are rocks and sea walls look for bivalves that will attach themselves to pretty much anything solid. if its a sandy shore dig a hole and see what you find.

I dont know the area arounf Brighton too well but im sure a walk along the low water mark will bring you something tasty. Theres some big spring tides soon so even more foraging grounds to explore.

[Lurch]

Note that bivalves tend to collect pollutants. Do a search and you'll find a few warnings on this.
We all saw Raymond cooking his mussels on the beach but even he advises that you collect and allow them 24 hrs in known clean water to purge.

[weekend_warrior]

sadly purging - which will cause the bi-valve to eject sand, mud etc - will not remove pollutants. These will have been ingested and built up in the meat. You might want to check the beach area against the Blue Flag listings - the european clean beach award thing..

Blue Flag UK Beaches (http://www.blueflag.org/blueflag/2005/UnitedKingdom)


PS. A handful of ground oats - or even ready brek - in the purge water helps too.