mussels Archives - Page 2 of 2

La Narval Mussels with Garlic & Chili

These La Narval Mussels with Garlic & Chili were a little spendy. But, having been impressed by their Tuna Ventresca, I decided to "shell out" and get them.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

Some nice looking shellfish here. Plump and swimming in olive oil (not EVOO, though) with a slight reddish tinge. The oil had the subtle aroma of garlic, and the color I attributed to the chili. Initially, I didn't find physical evidence of either in the can.

The La Narval website says to expect 12 to 16 mussels per can. I counted either 14 or 15. I didn't find the meat as inherently sweet as with some others, but they were tasty nonetheless. If, as they say, you are what you eat, then maybe the Galician Coast has some different phyto-plankton affecting the flavor of these.

If there was any heat, it was really way in the background. Maybe some Salsa Espinaler might have perked them up a bit, but I didn't have any at hand. They were enjoyable anyway.

At one point, I found what looked like a tiny kidney bean. Since I know mussels don't have kidneys or livers, I had to make a closer inspection. It turned out to be the smallest chile pepper I've ever seen.

Main Takeaways

Appetizing appearance
Sparse seasoning left us wanting something more
Quality mussels, regardless

Best price on these is a little over $7 at World Market. Luckily, I have one nearby.

Brand: Don Gastronom/La Narval
Description: Mussels with Garlic & Chili
Species: Mytilus galloprovincialis
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic, Galician Coast
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.9 oz.
Price Range: $7-8

Patagonia Provisions Spicy Mussels

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Caught them on a sale at Whole Foods, where they go for normally about $8 a can. Mussels are always a nice break from sardines, mackerel, etc. And they're typically a cut above the usually pedestrian smoked oysters, as these Patagonia Provisions Spicy Mussels in Extra-Virgin Olive Oil definitely are.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

These look nice, and the can is full. I counted 20 or 21 whole mussels. The banner on the box says "Hot, Tangy, Sweet", and that's about right. Not too hot, though. Tangy as well, and I guess the sweet really comes from the mussels themselves. Really tasty.

The box urges you to "flip can onto a plate so seasonings flow evenly over mussels." I dumped them over some rice for a quick lunch. The image on the Patagonia website oversells the red bell pepper content a bit. Maybe chalk that up to food-styling photography. If these were plain, I'd put a few dashes of Salsa Espinaler on them, but that's not necessary. I think the same sensibility was used when concocting this flavor profile, though.

This is the first can of mussels I've noticed that honestly lists mussel broth as the primary liquid, with the EVOO being sixth on the list of ingredients.

Main Takeaways

Visually appealing
Seasoned as advertised
Plenty of mussels

Recommended. I'd buy these again. Hopefully on sale.

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Patagonia Provisions
Description: Patagonia Provisions Spicy Mussels in EVOO
Species: N/S
Country of Origin: Spain, Chile
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic; FAO87, Southeast Pacific
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $7-8

Trader Joe’s Lightly Smoked Mussels

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Officially described as Trader Joe's Lightly Smoked Mussels in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I continue to have a bone to pick over "in olive oil". These are clearly not packed in olive oil. There may be some in there, and according to the box, it's the second ingredient on the list. But it should really say "with olive oil". This is not the first can of mussels I've seen make this dubious claim. I drank some of the liquid from the can (okay, so all of the liquid) to assess the flavor. And it was clear I wasn't drinking oil. Anyway, moving on...

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

These are nice looking, and the can is packed reasonably full. The taste was of a really good, sweet shellfish and just the right amount of chew. Didn't really get much in the way of smoke, though.

I think I'm going to make a frutti di mare pasta with a tin of these, can juices and all. It should go well with some fresh shrimp I have on hand. At a little over $2 each, I just might use two cans.

Brand: Trader Joe's
Description: Lightly Smoked Mussels
Species: Mussels
Country of Origin: Chile
Source: FAO87, Southeast Pacific
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.02 oz.
Price Range: $2-3

Cole’s Smoked Mussels in EVOO

DeenLeave a comment

Taking a break from the quest for the ultimate sardines with lemon. Here's some Cole's Smoked Mussels in EVOO. The can I opened says, I swear, "in extra virgin olive oil". But no photo I can find online, even at their website says that, only "in olive oil". No matter, I'll buy another can tomorrow and photograph it myself.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 3.5/5.

A kind of monochromatic look to the meat. No variegated coloration like some brands. Perhaps it's a difference in species. The aroma is about what you'd expect, that of shellfish and the sea. The texture is meaty, not mealy like smoked oyster can be.

But look at the actual photo I took of the just-opened can (click to enlarge). I left the glare of the flash so you can see the droplets of oil on the surface of the packing liquid. Oil doesn't form droplets on the surface of itself. I really wonder what is the legal definition of "in oil" for tinned fish products.

Anyway, (lack of) olive oil aside, these were still tasty. Roughly, I estimate there were 18-20 in the can, most whole with only a few ragged bits. True hardwood smoked, not just added smoke flavoring. Paired with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, the mineral notes of each complimented the other nicely. The wine's bright acidity a contrast to the savory.

Brand: Cole's Seafood
Description: Smoked Mussels in EVOO
Species:
Country of Origin: Chile
Source: Farm raised
Skin/Bones: N/A
Net Wt: 4.0 oz.
Price Range: $3-4