Euro 2012 - England/Spain Part 8 - Munchkin Initiated Into the Rite of Eating Posts

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A food day J.  You may have noted that there has not been a lot written about eating on this trip so far.  Well we’ve been in England and even though it has been written that food has gotten much better in Great Britain over the last few years, it really is not very good.  Most things tend to be over cooked and lacking in even the most elemental flavoring.  We’ve had some good things here and there but no meal that really knocked your socks off.  At least not until today.

The culinary adventures started with fried kippers for breakfast.  This is something of a memory food that my Dad reminded me about before I came over.  I couldn’t find any restaurants with them but I did find a nice smoked kippered herring at one of the grocery stores so I got it.  You fry some onions dark first and then add cut up pieces of the smoked fish.  Not for everyone’s taste but I really liked it. 

Kippers

 Son-in-law 3A jumps up on the most popular son-in-law rankings by trying them and liking them.

The main event of the day was our attempt at finding some really good fish and shellfish.  We had read quite a bit about the quality of these in Dorset.  Both Wife and I love seafood especially when it is really fresh and it is something that you can’t get in New Mexico.  But first we went out and took a walk on Chesel Beach.  It was actually my second walk of the day as I got up early like yesterday.  But this was much more leisurely.  Then 3.1 needed to go down for a nap and I needed to access Internet in Bridport again.  By the time we got back to pick up 3.1 and Wife, it was around 12:30 and we needed to hustle to get to a restaurant before the usual 2:30 closing time.

Now I need to point out hear that Wife and I were not looking for mediocre seafood.  We wanted good stuff.  There was a place along the road to Bridport that looked promising but Rob wanted to go to a town in the opposite direction.  As he was driving his ruling stood.  The town, Weymouth, is much bigger than Bridport.  We got to the waterfront and started driving around and found…nothing.  20 or more cheesy fish and chip joints and a lot of stuff catering to not very sophisticated tourists but nothing that sung out quality, fresh seafood.  We broke down a started looking on the Internet via the phone and found a place that seemed right in the nearby community of Portland.  It was now around 2 PM and we were getting hungry and nervous not to mention Lia’s good humor was fading fast.  We were using the GPS and were approaching our destination when we saw a sign that said “Oyster Farm and Fresh Seafood”.   Wife, #3 and I all shouted out, “Let’s try that!”  But 3A vetoed us and said, “We’re staying on the course”.  In another couple of minutes we reached our destination.  This too looked promising with one small problem.  It was out of business. 

Now we were around 2:30.  So we hustled back to the place we had just passed.  We drove up the driveway in what was like and industrial fishing area.  As we came up to it, we found all kinds of cars parked, a good sign.  I dashed in to see if they were still open and they were and they had a table that could hold the five of us.  Success.

This was without doubt the best meal of the trip so far.  A lot of the fish was very simply prepared and it was very fresh.

3A had steamed mussels Normand style (with some cream in the wine sauce) and a mixed grill of fish 

 including fresh sardines, hake, red mullet, and a couple of others.  

#3 had a squid with Singapore seasoning and a plate of skate wing.   

Wife started with sea bream fillets breaded and fried and then a whole (big ass) crab.  It was huge, sweet, and wonderful (I got to eat out all the fat and goodness in the shells.  

 I had fresh oysters (soooo good) up front and a whole roasted Pollack.  I love whole fish. 

 We had a ton of food and we were swapping liberally with each other. 3.1 was having a kick watch Wife hammering away at the crab and she joined in and tried everything.   

Wife showing Munchkin the tools of the crab eating trade.

Munchkin is duly impressed 

Munchkin surveying the aftermath of the eating frenzy

Munchkin is duly impressed.

 We finished around 4 PM.

Then we went up to the top of the Isle of Portland where there were great views before calling it a day and coming back to the cottage.

Munchkin Siesta