#celtic-sea-salt

#celtic-sea-salt

Maine is known for its fresh seafood, specifically lobster, and has many other foods native to its culinary culture that are unbreakably tied to the state.

Nearly 40 miles of untamed coastline are protected in Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California. This means that besides viewing the massive, jaw-dropping trees, visitors can also meander the Pacific Ocean's edge, marvel at cliffs and perhaps even spot a gray whale. Of course, the sea's bounty also provides a delicious meal at the end of a drive or a hike.

East Coast oysters are known and loved over the world for the clean minerality and distinctive salinity, which is reflective of the cold Atlantic waters where they come from. Although Maine and Maryland get a lot of credit, oysters are present along the continent's entire eastern coast, as far north as Canada's Prince Edward Island all the way down to South Florida.

Generally, East Coast oysters are brinier than West Coast oysters. Eastern oysters, raised either in the Atlantic Ocean or in its estuaries, live in a much saltier environment. West Coast oysters are mostly raised in protected bays, estuaries, and tidal rivers, where there is much less salt.

These scallops are wild caught in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Argentina, and while they are on the smaller end, they are every bit as delicious. Plus, you can feel good about buying them, as they are harvested using what is called an "otter trawl," a system that reduces bycatch and lands them among the more sustainable seafood options.

This unassuming marine macroalgae (to give it its proper name) is packed full of vital minerals and nutrients, and can make for an unglamorous, yet functional addition to your diet. Seaweed is exactly as the name suggests - an edible marine algae that grows along coastlines and on rocks under the water. It comes in thousands of varieties, but the ones we eat most commonly fall into three groups: brown (like kelp and wakame), red (nori, dulse), and green (sea lettuce).

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Bay Area crab lovers rejoice! After weeks of delays, fresh off the boat Dungeness crab sales started Sunday. Local crabbers are selling their catches directly to customers again this year at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. The first Dungeness crab catch just arrived at Piers 45 and 47 at Fisherman's Wharf. A steady stream of Bay Area crab lovers was eager to buy.

In New England, the official dipping buddy for creamy clam chowder is called a common cracker, and it's different than any other cracker in almost every possible way. For starters, it's larger (about the size of a Ritz cracker), rougher, and looks unmistakably old-school. The common cracker's flavor is also deliberately restrained. Wheaty, crunchy, and very hearty - these unleavened crackers swell slightly in creamy New England clam chowder. This makes them take on a dumpling-like quality, and it's not accidental.

The place is a real looker - minimalist and monochromatic interiors with plenty of stainless steel and exposed features - and the menu is more than a match, showcasing the best seafood from across the UK in dishes inspired by the coastal regions Italy, Spain, Portugal and France. Given oysters are in the name, it's no surprise that Noisy Oyster has them on the menu,

But when you pull off that tail section, you will reveal inside the cavity something that stands out against all of the pink and white flesh - a strange green paste. For many bib-clad lobster eaters, this green stuff ends up in the bin along with the scraps of cracked and empty shells, but they don't know what they are missing. That green paste is called tomalley, and despite its potentially off-putting appearance, it's a part of the lobster experience begging to be savored.

When it comes to the list of the most popular seafood in the U.S., shrimp is far and away the most consumed. While we tend to think of seafood as coming from saltwater oceans, this list also includes freshwater fish, clams and shrimp. It's true that most of shrimp we eat comes from saltwater habitats, but freshwater shrimp has its place at the table. Setting aside the distinction between shrimp and prawns, there are some key differences between freshwater and saltwater shrimp that you should know.

Nothing screams summer in New England more than a fresh, buttery lobster roll. Whether you like yours served cold and loaded with creamy filling or you prefer a bun stacked with warm, naked claws, lobster rolls are a staple part of the Northeastern diet - and they're often enjoyed in other parts of the country too. If you're a fan, then there's another seafood sandwich you should try, especially if lobsters aren't commonly found in your area: Scallop rolls.

"Beer steaming is literally replacing water with beer," Becker told Tasting Table.

Its origins lie in the county's mining past, where it was devised as a complete, portable meal. The crimp acted as a handle, and some pasties were even made with different fillings at each end, offering both savoury and sweet in a single bake. Debate over the perfect pasty remains lively, but the classic combination of beef, potato, onion and swede is still the benchmark, and for many, still the one to beat.