Well, M and I are still on Hilton Head Island. We've been here since Oct 3rd, and will head home on in a few days on the 17th. Certainly, a two-week stay at the beach, breathing that wonderful salt air is good for the soul.
I know some of my blogs are about food, and this one will be no exception, but hey, food is in the name of my blog. This is Baseball, God and Tacos, not Baseball, God and Birds. Well anyway, you get the idea.
I am a list person. Now there are two ways to interpret that. I am not the type who makes a list every morning of things I have or need to do. That just isn't me. Ok, when I worked at the Star Herald, I would make a list of all the stories I had to write that particular week (or day), but that was different. No, I write lists of things like states I have visited (38), countries I have been in (24), major league stadiums i have visited (15). You get the idea.
These past two weeks I have been keeping a list of how many different types of seafood I have had. I know, that is pretty silly, and I really can't argue with you, but if I am going to be in the land of fresh seafood, I really don't want to eat the same thing twice. Does that make any sense? I want to savor and enjoy as many different types of seafood as possible.
Fortunately, I do not have any shellfish allergy which would keep me from enjoying, well, shellfish, like shrimp or lobster. So far I have yet to find a fish that really grosses me out. I used to hate tuna, but then thanks to my friend Kim, who suggested I try Ahi tuna, I have seen the light. I am now a true convert to a certain type of tuna. Bottom line is, I can pretty much eat anything that swims or crawls in the deep blue sea without worrying how it affects me.
Today is our 12th day on HHI, and thus far my seafood list stands at 11. Not a bad list, but I've done better. I think in years past I have had as many as 15. I doubt I make that this year. I am getting older and slowing down you know.
So the following is my list thus far, with a brief comment about each.
1. Crab cakes - The place where I usually get crab cakes is pretty decent. We try to go there for Sunday brunch and I get the crabcake eggs benedict. It's much better than ham. Their hollandaise sauce is good, but not near as good as Southern Grocery back home in Sheffield.
2. Fried calamari - A good appetizer dish that is made better by what they have to dip it in. Marinara is always a crowd favorite
3. Fried shrimp - Marilyn can eat shrimp all day. It is far and away her favorite seafood. I like my fried shrimp very lightly breaded, and fortunately most of the establishments on HHI do exactly that.
4. Peel and eat shrimp - Just what it says. Peel the skin off, drag them through some cocktail sauce, and eat away.
5. Mussels - I have really become a fan of mussels. Most of the ones here in the Low Country come from the Canadian maritimes. Doesn't matter, they are good, just pull them out of their shells, eat them plain or dip in a sauce.
6. Crayfish - When I was growing up back in Missouri, we called these crawdads. They look just like miniature lobsters and they taste pretty good as well. I am not a purist though. I just eat the meat from the tails, I do not suck the brains out. One strike against crawfish, that's a lot of work for just a little piece of meat.
7. Snow crab - I love, love, love snow crab. Usually when served, you get one of those crushers, like you're cracking walnuts. You also get a bowl of hot melted butter. Can't you hear your arteries clogging just reading about it. There are four claws with all the food inside. Crack them open, use the tiny, tiny fork to get the white morsels of goodness out and dip in butter. Then repeat. The meat of the snow crab is so sweet. Wish I had some in front of me right now
8. Mahi-mahi - This is an ugly green fish with a yellowish head. But it tastes so good. Well, actually the taste is kind of plain, but it does a great job of absorbing the spices of whatever you are cooking it in. You see mahi-mahi a lot in fish tacos.
9. Grouper - There is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant here in HHI called "The Sea Shack", and it is just that. The menu is written in different colored markers on a white board. They get stuff fresh off the boats in the morning and cook it for lunch and dinner. My favorite item they serve is the blackened grouper sandwich. (email me for a pic). A nice slice of fish that has been grilled with all those blackening spices. I usually ask for extra blackening. Served on a roll with lettuce, tomato and onion, it is the best sandwich on the island.
10. Ahi tuna - I mentioned this earlier, I had some last Friday as tacos. The steamed flour tortilla contained the ahi tuna, sashimi slaw, wasabi aioli, avocado and sesame seeds. Oh. My. Goodness.
11. Scallops - Scallops are just ok. They taste somewhat like shrimp. But they are my mom's favorite, so she makes me promise every time I go to the beach I will have some scallops for her. Ok mom, I did.
Ok, my list of seafood on this trip to the beach. There is still time for some gator or oysters, maybe some swordfish. We will just have to see. Thanks for reading,
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