Wednesday, February 20, 2008

It warms the cockles of my heart

Had some very salty cockles at the newly renovated (well polished, as they couldn’t change much to this lovely listed building) Warrington Pub in Maida Vale. Mr. Gordon Ramsay now owns it and the service is spectacular and the staff are super friendly and attentive, sometimes an anomaly in this city!

The place has been scrubbed clean and the original glory of the pub restored – it looks great. We ordered the Honey Monster’s favourite wine, Montepulciano D’Abbruzzo and some salty cockles which didn’t go down a treat as they were very salty - it almost tasted like there was sand still inside them; not sure if you are supposed to eat them that way?! Will try the new restaurant upstairs soon and report back. Glad the local is back open for business!

Some info on the cockle:

  • A cockle is the common name for tiny mollusc which looks like a mini clam. The shells they emerge out of are quite pretty usually in a heart shape and with distinctive ribbing.
  • Cockles reproduce quickly and are hermaphroditic. They are part of the bivalve family which included scallops, clams, oysters (yum) and mussels.
  • The labour of collecting cockles is hard work and, as seen from the Morecambe Bay disaster, in which 21 illegal immigrants died, can be dangerous if local tidal conditions are not carefully watched.
  • Cockles are sold freshly cooked as a snack food in the United Kingdom, and are eaten with vinegar. Seafood stalls sell them along with mussels, whelks, and eels.

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