An Oyster Outing

After a lovely morning enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of the Bellingham Farmers Market and a predictably excellent lunch at La Fiamma with my friend A , we said "goodbye for now" and are already looking forward to our next get-together.

Later this afternoon Phil and I drove along Chuckanut Drive, a 21-mile narrow road, part of which was completed in 1896. It winds up and down hill, high above the shoreline, with wonderful views.

We turned off -- a hairpin turn -- before the end of Chuckanut Drive to go to Taylor Shellfish Farms, which has several locations. We're fortunate to have one so close to us, near the small town of Bow. They offer a wide range of fresh oysters, clams, mussels, geoduck, and crab, as well as frozen halibut and wild salmon.

To get there, we have to cross open train tracks, so "stop, look, and listen" is the order of the day. Shortly after we parked our car, we heard a train whistle and one of the very long coal trains that travel several times daily through Bellingham roared past. I had to laugh at Phil's interpretation of this sign! I wouldn't want to be as close to a whizzing train as he was today.

We bought a dozen small, highly prized fresh Shigoku oysters, and Phil shucked them as soon as we were home. They were delicious with a squeeze of lemon and a glass of white wine. We also bought a pint of shucked Pacifica oysters, which we'll gently cook in butter and wine in the next day or two. They'll be lovely with the first-of-the-season sugar snap peas I bought at the farmers' market today!

(For Phil's version of the story, click here.)