The European Eel (Anguilla anguilla); a creature shrouded in mystery and folklore. Their methods of capture invoking such ancient terminology as babbing, pritching and fyke netting. A wandering, serpentine, oceanic, catadrome, migrating in the early part of its life, from a vast Sargassum-fronded nursery in the North Atlantic, to its ultimate freshwater residence in the lakes,… Read More Eel Appeal
One of the most enjoyable aspects, I’ve discovered, of writing about food that inspires you, is the added dimension of seasonality. Wild food especially, affords you the chance to inject a huge amount of enthusiasm into a subject, knowing full well that the time frame for its enjoyment is potentially limited. In our local Suffolk… Read More #Sprats
It’s all too easy sitting here in a warm office, Labradors by my feet, waxing lyrical and enthusiastically eulogizing about the abundance of amazing produce that our inshore waters harbour. It’s only marginally more strenuous to drive to the plethora of local fishmongers and restaurants to sample what bounty the shallow seas of our coastline have… Read More Is there a Catch?
The Deben Estuary in East Suffolk, holds fond appeal for me, as many hours of my youth were spent afloat on her brisk and effervescent, tidal waters steaming to and from the local fishing marks. Crewing for Doug Goodall aboard Swallow II, whether long-lining for Cod during the winter months or potting for Crab and… Read More Suffolk Silver
Last weekend in East Suffolk we enjoyed one of the region’s premier gastronomic events, in the shape of the Aldeburgh Food Festival at Snape Maltings on the banks of the massively picturesque, tidal River Alde. Now an eagerly anticipated annual event, it has become the culinary epicentre of the East coast each September and has proved to be an excellent and exciting… Read More Smoked Salmon – Re-styled
One particular species of shellfish which I have always found, not only extremely good value and delicious, but also a lot of fun to catch, is the Brown or Common Shrimp (Crangon crangon). I have managed over the years to enthuse my children enough to enjoy this particular summer, seashore pastime and if well prepared, it can… Read More Shrimps at Sunrise
It’s true to say that over the years, my love of sea-life and seafood has been enhanced consistently by certain publications and their authors, whether concerning natural history or culinary notes. One of the first books that I drew inspiration from was one of Father’s favourites which I still read to this day, namely “Life of the Shore… Read More Words of Inspiration
In Suffolk, we’re blessed with some superb eateries and none more so than the delightful and ever-welcoming Lighthouse in Aldeburgh, which I have frequented consistently over the years since the owners established the business in the late 90’s . Now obviously, the breadth of menu extends to all palates and desires, but, as you would expect, I generally tend to gravitate towards… Read More Lunch at the Lighthouse
One of the events I most yearned for growing up by the coast was the occurrence of a very low spring tide. Low tides have always fascinated me and the opportunity to explore areas of the shoreline, seldom visible and accessible, filled me with huge and overpowering excitement. Albeit a brief window, the hour spent at… Read More Lobsters at Low Tide
Back in the 1970’s my parents took me on holiday to the fishing port of Brixham in South Devon. Here, during one of my numerous shoreline investigations, I happened onto some local fisherman loading up crabs for export to Spain. Although very familiar with the ubiquitous Brown or Edible crabs that inhabit our own East… Read More March of the Spiders
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