Razor clams

[Dunwaters]

Very true, I wouldn't venture to far to be honest but will keep my wits about me

I lost a very good friend to razor clam picking a few years ago, they walked out, mist came down and no one had a compass.
Stay safe.

 

[Mungo]

After watching a James martin episode where he cooked razor clams I'm interested in trying to get some. Anyone have any tips on what to look out for on beaches/foreshore to indicate they may be there?

Not even slightly worth the effort.

I’ve had them self caught and in Michelin starred restaurants. And never found them anything other than utterly mediocre.

They’re bland, a bit chewy and the sand is very hard to get rid of. Famine food for a reason…

 

[Mungo]

I absolutely adore razor clams cooked on the barbie with a lemon, garlic and coriander marinade.

You could cook almost anything fatty and protinaceous that way and make it palatable.

The truck is to find something that isn’t a ballache to catch and doesn’t come with a mouthful of sand…

 

[Len the dog]

You could cook almost anything fatty and protinaceous that way and make it palatable.

The truck is to find something that isn’t a ballache to catch and doesn’t come with a mouthful of sand…

As with most live shellfish you purge them in saltwater to flush the sand out, then most importantly, you cook them correctly. Any food badly cooked by a less than competent cook will be chewy and bland.

 

[Mungo]

As with most live shellfish you purge them in saltwater to flush the sand out, then most importantly, you cook them correctly. Any food badly cooked by a less than competent cook will be chewy and bland.

Tell that to Tom Kitchin…

As I said, I’ve had them in Michelin starred restaurants, and they’ve been every bit as uninspiring as the ones I’ve cooked myself.

Cockles, on the other hand, are magnificent.

 

[Ade8mm]

Low spring tides are best

 

[Len the dog]

Tell that to Tom Kitchin…

As I said, I’ve had them in Michelin starred restaurants, and they’ve been every bit as uninspiring as the ones I’ve cooked myself.

Cockles, on the other hand, are magnificent.

In that case I'm rather fortunate that I don't share your palate.

 

[Mungo]

In that case I'm rather fortunate that I don't share your palate.

Or, quite possibly, you’re a good enough cook to turn something that’s close to inedible into something nice.

 

[T.eddie]

I mainly just want to give them a go if I can actually find them locally. It's only a 20min walk to get onto the blackwater estuary so hoping I can find some around that

 

[mack8317]

In some areas in the summer months, the filter-feeding shellfish have elevated levels of toxins that cause DSP and PSP find it best to gather shellfish from the shore in the winter months with less chance of a dose of the *****

 

[AGR]

In some areas in the summer months, the filter-feeding shellfish have elevated levels of toxins that cause DSP and PSP find it best to gather shellfish from the shore in the winter months with less chance of a dose of the *****

Yep, I'd be checking the maps showing sewage spills very carefully!

 

[big ears]

In some areas in the summer months, the filter-feeding shellfish have elevated levels of toxins that cause DSP and PSP find it best to gather shellfish from the shore in the winter months with less chance of a dose of the *****

Only if there is an R in the month a good rule of thumb

 

[big ears]

In some areas in the summer months, the filter-feeding shellfish have elevated levels of toxins that cause DSP and PSP find it best to gather shellfish from the shore in the winter months with less chance of a dose of the *****

Caught norovirus from foraged shellfish once that was an experience

 

[mack8317]

Only if there is an R in the month a good rule of thumb

That will work

 

[T.eddie]

Have seen that rule for "r" in the month and to also avoid summer months altogether. Checking the map for sewage spills is a good idea I'll take a look

 

[sh1kar]

Don't overcook. Steam them open in white wine like muscles and by the time they've cooled enough to handle they're pretty much done.

I don’t overcook them
Never cooked any. But stein seems to overcook them all the time whenever had them at his place

 

[Dunwaters]

Tell that to Tom Kitchin…

As I said, I’ve had them in Michelin starred restaurants, and they’ve been every bit as uninspiring as the ones I’ve cooked myself.

Cockles, on the other hand, are magnificent.

Cockles and clams can generally be found in similar places to the razors. You need to rake them out or use a fork.
While you’re at it have a go at the lug worms too.
We could probably use the exercise.

 

[Mungo]

Cockles and clams can generally be found in similar places to the razors. You need to rake them out or use a fork.
While you’re at it have a go at the lug worms too.
We could probably use the exercise.

Cockles are also much easier to collect than spoots!

 

[User00035]

Tell that to Tom Kitchin…

As I said, I’ve had them in Michelin starred restaurants, and they’ve been every bit as uninspiring as the ones I’ve cooked myself.

Cockles, on the other hand, are magnificent.

You should try limpets. I quite like them but they make razors feel soft and delicate in comparison. About the only molluscs I'm not keen on is whelks, but I've only had them in tubs from seafront stalls and they tasted like gritty rubber in warm sea water. I'm sure they've got much more potential in the right hands.

 

[20-250]

Caught norovirus from foraged shellfish once that was an experience

I could do with losing a stone or so. Thanks for the inspiration. I’ll get me wellies on.