829 Southdrive

829 Southdrive

A New Jersey state of mind



Friday, October 26, 2012

On The Hard: Season Over





With a smudge on her ass, Bay Rhumb was hauled today at about
12:30 p.m.  It was a hasty arrangement:  I called yesterday and 
inquired about a Friday haul-out, after getting an update on weather
disturbance 'Sandy", who may cause some bothersome winds and
unusually elevated water levels.  Rick's Marina obliged, realizing the
monetary opportunity, and before I knew it, I was swiping my Visa
rewards card, emitting a sigh of relief.  I'll look at the bill next week.
BTW, it was a slimy bottom I saw after spending the last six
months as far up Forked River as you can possibly go.  It's a trade-
off:  Slime up-river as opposed to massive barnacles downstream.





They stopped and asked me if I wanted a super-soap wash, or just 
a simple power wash.  Guess what I said. 





After leaving my girl in the yard, I felt I needed to bring some shore 
home with me.  Jonah crab claws fit the bill.  The crabs are hauled
up in lobster pots, and the lobstermen rip one claw off from each
crab, and throw the crab back in, allowing it to survive and generate
another meaty appendage.  It works.  They're the delicious, but 
cheaper version of the Miami stone crabs.  I made some whole-grain
mustard mayo to go along with the crabmeat.  Yum. 





Barnegat littlenecks, steamed with vermouth, onions, celery seeds,
mustard seeds, and basil.  I thought we may have had too much to
eat before dinner but I was proven wrong, happily. 




Mise en Place.  I felt obligated to sprinkle some Old Bay on the 
blowfish, seeing that it was the only item from Maryland. I hope 
Mitch appreciated that mild shout-out.  It's a collateral catch. 
 In Maryland, when they pull up the crab pots, there are blowfish 
swishing around inside, since these puffers are bottom feeders 
whose  preferences are shellfish.  They have a mild, white 
flesh, and it's easily pulled from the bone.  The other fish is flounder 
from Barnegat Bay, which is the go-to choice for anyone looking 
for a taste of New Jersey.  It happens to be Baywife's favorite.    






The last of the Jersey Tomatoes, with Mozzarella Bocconcinis, 
Cured Olives, Garbanzo Beans, Basil, Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, 
and Sea Salt.  A bowl of soul.  ( I had to do something with the can
of Garbanzos I opened just for the stupid jury duty post, O Docker).





Spinach.  Mature spinach.  Baby spinach is over-rated and more
expensive.  I'm strongs to the finishk when I eats me spinichk.






Flounder with Brussels Sprouts ripped from the stalk, with a ton of
butter, served with another ton of butter mixed with white wine,
capers, and lemon juice.






Blowfish with sauteed mature spinach, and the same delicious
sauce pictured in the previous photo. 

After leaving my summer behind today, I needed to at least bring
some of it back home with me.  I'm going back next week to 
take the sails down and winterize the nether regions, and I plan to 
once again cull some flavors from my memory of the warmer months 
one last time, to savor the essences of my favorite time of year. 








5 comments:

  1. You.

    Are.

    Killing.

    Me.

    That looks utterly fantastic!

    BTW, we never put Shearwater back in the drink due to some parts that took their sweet time to arrive (late last week). With Sandy on the way, we're glad we're still on the hard. Sails already down, four stands on each side of the hull, everything all winterized and we're in a choice location in the boatyard.

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  2. I think if the great New Jersey novel is ever written, it could well be called The Last of the Jersey Tomatoes.

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  3. Glad you got your boat out. Good luck & take care, hope all's OK over the next couple of days.

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  4. Hope you have circled the wagons & boats and battened down for Sandy!

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