On July 16th, The 2014 mussels season was festively opened in Yerseke, and guess who was there? Me, my family and an awful lot of camera crews. Because mussels are a big thing in La Belgique and The Netherlands, and if they are ready for the harvest you’ll know it as soon as you switch on the news. My mom absolutely hates them, but my dad and I love them and therefor a visit to “mussel capital” Yerseke had been on our to-do list for years. We begged and pleated with her, and when we promised her we’d find a restaurant that also served things that did not come out of the North Sea she went along. Foursquare served me well that day, and we found us a table with a stunning view over the Eastern Scheldt and the fisherman’s wharf. A cheerful waiter came to take our order.
Me: mussels!
Sister: mussels!
Dad: mussels!
Mom: mussels!
I will never understand my parents. Never ever.
Yet, my moms order was not the biggest surprise of the night. After placing our order, the waiter informed us that we’d have to wait for a bit until the kitchen was restocked. A short while later, a boat docked right next to the restaurant and a young man jumped off board onto the embankment (a dangerous move, it seemed) and picked up one of the empty crates that were stacked against the restaurants wall. He threw it to his mate on the boat, who then filled it with fresh catch. A third man attached a walkway to the embankment and the second man came walking to the restaurant with the crate full of mussels in his hands, while the young man who threw him the crate was sitting on a bollard smoking a cigarette. Through the open kitchen we got to see how to cook checked the load and how everything was weighted and then thrown right into a giant kettle. Moments later we were enjoying what was probably the freshest seafood I have ever eaten. And it was good.
1. mom and dad on a path along the Scheldt • 2. my sister picking flowers for a flower crown • 3. a boat coming into port with a fresh load of seafood • 4. coffee + cake in town • 5. bikes and cute houses • 6-7-8. oyster farms • 9. endless rows of yachts • 10. on the horizon, you can spot the port of Antwerp • 11. mom and dad enjoying the views over the Scheldt • 12. even the children know how to sail here • 13. time for dinner! |
I am so jealous! That sounds awesome!
gorgeous photos!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
Oh my gosh. I have to visit this place haha! I absolutely love mussels! Your photos of the trip are stunning too!
Have a great weekend!
xo April
You are making me hungry now!
Oh wow! That does sound like *fresh* seafood! From the photos it looks like a neat place to visit.
Amazing that you got to see your dinner coming ashore!
Gorgeous photos – I especially like the one of the cake…yuuuuum haha!
Amazing that you got fresh seafood like that, it must have tasted delicious 🙂
Away From The Blue
Now that’s FRESH!
Supermooie foto’s. En damn, nu heb ik keiveel zin in mosselen :-).
Ah, you write so well! Loved reading this, and nice, peaceful photos. I need to find me some beach. xxx :p
Oh my, those pictures are just gorgeous Nikki! Makes me wish I could have been there to see those beautiful sites in person!
leuke foto’s, leuke ervaringen
Heel mooie foto’s, babe!
Hele mooie foto’s! Ik heb nog maar één keer mosselen gegeten dit jaar… Veel te weinig! 😀
Wat een mooie foto’s! Ik heb al een hele poos zin in mosselen, mm 🙂