No, sillies, this isn't a tale of eating a whale!
It's true. Most Angeleno's don't know
where Wales is, and they sure as hell don't know that one of their national foods is the cockle.
Wales is one of the four countries (yes, it's its own country), that comprises the United Kingdom - that land across the pond we often assume falls under the blanket "England" that most certainly does not. A country rich in history and tradition, bordered primarily by the Irish Sea with lush hills and valleys, craggy cliffs, and patches of desolate coal-like terrain, it's no surprise many of the local foods come from the sea.
So, what on earth is a cockle? It's a lot like a small clam. Brits eat them as snack food, served outside of their pale orange and green hued shells in paper cones with a bit of vinegar. You can even get jars of them pickled at local groceries. The Welsh do the same, but it's more common to see them served as you would other bi-valves for dinner, and more often, on a breakfast plate with another local staple called
laverbread (pronounced lavahbread), which is a made from a type of seaweed - Porphyra - native to the cold and rocky north Atlantic shores west of
Swansea.
Imagine my surprise when I saw none other than a big ol' five pound net bag of live, fresh cockles staring back at me from a bed of a ice in the live seafood stall at my local
CostCo - in Marina del Rey! Naturally, the first thing I did was pick up the phone to call my
Welsh boyfriend! I had to repeat myself a few times before he realized I was, in fact, saying cockles. I promptly bought the bag - while a couple of onlookers asked me what they were and what I was going to do with them - and he promptly called his mother for cooking instructions. The bit about boiling them for a couple of minutes sounded like crazy talk, but after getting my way to throw in some herbs, garlic and a hefty bit of white wine, and agreeing to hold the salt (it comes from the shells), we did just that.
They smelled so good, we had a few fresh out of their shells as soon as they'd cooled just enough to handle, and they were absolutely delicious. The pink-orange flesh was so sweet, tender and fragrant it was like no clam I'd had before. To be blunt about it, I'm not much a fan of clams, but I could have easily sat down and polished off the lot.
We saved the remainder to chill and snack on with a bit of vinegar and crackers, and those were quite tasty too. Now I'm looking forward to having some with laverbread when we're in the UK for the holidays!
No guarantee they'll regularly carry them, but if you don't want to hop on the next flight to London, head to your local CostCo and give some a try.
CostCo Store #49
13463 Washington BlvdMarina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 754-2020
Psssst... over here!
Rainy days are more and more a rarity in these parts, so when one comes, it's more tempting to head out into the world to enjoy the elements than it is to curl up in bed with a book.
After deciding to sit in a cozy red leather booth against one of the exposed brick walls (versus sitting in the bright, airy, gingham checked cafe area where the same menu is available), we brushed the rain from our coats and settled in for some serious grub. Beer ordered the sausage and onion pizza with a bag of chips (literally!) while I opted for a prosciutto-mozzarella panini served with chive topped mashed potatoes in their own mini cast iron terrine. Our server was sweet (in a genuine as opposed to sugary way) and very attentive, as was the busser who made sure our glasses were constantly full and we had everything we needed. The meal was perfect. The only thing I couldn't figure out is why we don't think to come here more often.
No, sillies, this isn't a tale of eating a whale!
They smelled so good, we had a few fresh out of their shells as soon as they'd cooled just enough to handle, and they were absolutely delicious. The pink-orange flesh was so sweet, tender and fragrant it was like no clam I'd had before. To be blunt about it, I'm not much a fan of clams, but I could have easily sat down and polished off the lot.
It seems most memories of grandmothers include hours spent in the kitchen, secret ingredients, and recipes handed down in a hush. Having been raised by my grandparents, you'd think I’d be brimming with kitchen tales and secret techniques, but the truth is, my grandmother couldn’t cook.
Remembering there was something about this place I liked the last time I was here nearly a decade ago, Beer and I stopped in for lunch while in Pasadena off to see the tax wizard.
In a sea of Atkins inspired protein peddlers, Breadbar is a refreshing return to what eating is supposed to be.. good, simple, comforting, food.
When I was a kid, this is where we'd go to pick-up old school Italian style deli sandwiches and treats. Hell, come to think of it, this is where my parents went when THEY were kids. Back then, mom and pop Galco were still behind the counter making everything to order. Nowadays, their son has taken up the cause, maximizing on their unbelievable selection of hard to find sodas and brews. (Yes, they sell beer from around the world, too, in the back by the deli counter).
Grocery delivery isn't just for late night cigarettes and the lazy anymore!
