"mussels" news and stories

KitchenDaily expert Gail Simmons has a great recipe for a simple, tasty dish: Mussels Steamed in Pale Ale. Gail loves this recipe because there are endless flavor combinations that can be incorporated into the liquid in which the mussels are cooked, and it takes only 35 minutes to prepare. She suggests serving the tender steamed mussels with crusty bread such as a baguette to soak up all the delicious juices.

Get Gail's recipe for Mussels Steamed in Pale Ale.

When I think of mussels, I think of moules frites (mussels with french fries) served steaming and fresh at a seaside café in Trouville, Normandy. I guess the place where you eat something for the first time lodges in your memory as the quintessential spot to savor it.

But maybe this fall (peak mussel season) it's time for a trip to Washington state. Penn Cove mussels take to the Thai treatment of lemongrass, yellow curry, fresh basil and tomatoes at the Seattle bastion of all things seafood, Ivar's Acres of Clams, says blogger Pabo76, who shot this photo. Over at Ivar's Mulkiteo Landing restaurant, they do a mussels appetizer with red curry broth, ginger and cilantro. If you can't make it to Seattle, try it at home, with this Kitchen Daily recipe.

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Brian Boitano, living to entertain. Photo: Food Network

Is it just us, or is Brian Boitano already running out of ideas? After just four brief episodes, the figure-skater-turned-foodie is so strapped for a reason to entertain, he throws a finger-food party for a Spanish-American friend with a 6-month-old baby. Why? Because she "made it."

We'll ignore for a moment what the alternatives might be for mothers of newborns. Maybe that's the beauty of "What Would Brian Boitano Make?": The man needs no excuse -- or even a reason -- to whip up a few frilly themed appetizers. Or rather, his show is the excuse.

This week's installment was pure stream-of-consciousness Brian -- a day in the life, if you will: Wake up, fire up your vintage Wedgewood oven and make a Spanish tortilla, which reminds you of your Spanish-American pal Yvonne, which in turn prompts you to learn about making paella from her mother.

Bento box. Photo: luckysundae, Flickr

• Bento boxes continue to gain popularity in the U.S. as more moms discover the virtues of disguising healthy food in fun shapes.
• Gary Vaynerchuk whips up a vino fervor with his Wine Library TV and unconventional tasting notes.
• Cooking with Dexter talks about tykes and the joys of fresh-catching sea fare, and whips up a Red Shrimp Chowder with Corn.
• A prominent Italian-American restaurant scene is just the tip of the Staten Island iceberg of international culinary delights.
• The Minimalist makes pasta with mussels.
• Dogfish always tries to bend the boundaries of beer -- and now they're taking it a step further with saliva-strengthened chicha. Yes, spit.
• Motorino gets a second pizza-filled location after a prime find on Craigslist.
• California winemaker Kathryn Kennedy has passed away at the age of 82.
• A Good Appetite reminisces about Aunt Sandy's famous shindigs and her Sweet and Sour Salmon.
• The Temporary Vegetarian makes Soybeans with Garlic and Dill.
• Food Stuff finds a mixture of cheese and antiques, handy ice cream containers and South African vinegars.
• New York's openings and closings, and dining calendar.

Cloudy ice cube. Photo: YumSugar

Each Thursday, we round up a selection of scrumptious links from our friends over at YumSugar. Here's what they've got cooking this week:

Why do ice cubes cloud?

Sea beans, a salty newbie at farmers markets, can be prepared in numerous ways.

Saffron and the salty sea come together in Mussels with Saffron Cream Sauce.

Sexy snack bags: Help save the environment when packing lunch.

This holiday season, Starbucks will be partnerning with Christian Siriano (Project Runway winner) for a mysterious, top-secret project.

The world's largest cupcake was recently cut in London.

YumSugar asks: Do you eat bruised fruit?