mussels season

Hi,

Off to Bruges next weekend and was looking forward to moules and frites at least once.

However, I read somewhere that they might be unavailable as they are out of season. Can someone confirm??

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Best time for moules would after the Summer season.

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Apparently seafood is at its best and freshest %26quot;when there is an R in the month%26quot; - its all about not harvesting it during the non-R months (May-August) to allow the stocks to breed and replenish ready for September. I grew up on the south coast regularly prawning and winkling with my Dad as a small child - and that%26#39;s what he, my uncles and my grandfathers used to say.

I%26#39;m sure I see seafood on the menu during this time so not really sure. Maybe the %26#39;rule%26#39; is not for commercial seafood %26#39;harvesters%26#39; or stock may have been frozen? I don%26#39;t know.

In anycase I am off to Bruges on Sunday and as I don%26#39;t eat meat I was looking forward to seafood too - but I%26#39;m having second thoughts now remembering the %26#39;rule%26#39;.

Have a good time yourself.

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Langouste - Lobster and the like, are best in Summer.

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So will I be able to eat moules or not??

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I never had moules at this time of the year nor did I ever eat moules in Bruges. I do however go to Brussels since many years and always lunch at Chez Leon. They have the best frittes-moules and I suggest that you contact them. I don%26#39;t have a link for a Bruges restaurant that specialise in moules. Here is the link and bon appetit.

http://www.chezleon.be/index.asp?intro

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Dear Mister,

I am from Brugge, and own a restaurant

named Huyze die Maene on the market square,

So the mussels are not good for the moment,

the start of the mussel season start end of july,

now you can eat mussels in some restaurant,

do not be disapointed, they are not good,

now you can find canadien mussels,danish

but there is one real mussel for me in brugge

and this is the holand mussel,

so if you do eat, do not be angry on brugge it is your fault, you whanted to taste.

so by the way, if you have some time we serve

not mussels for the moment, only in season

the brasserie is on the market square

Huyze die Maene N° 17 and b%26amp;b also

have a nice time in brugge

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Nice posting -looftje-.

I wonder if our London friend enjoyed his mussels.

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Thanks for the post.

Back now and didn%26#39;t try the Moules.

Another restaurant owner I spoke to me confirmed that they were out of season and not so good at the moment. I decided not to ruin the experience.

Guess I%26#39;ll have to go back another time to try them!

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Just as an FYI - It%26#39;s my understanding that Belgium no longer harvests mussels - that the mussels served in Belgium come from The Netherlands, Spain and France, with the Dutch variety considered superior. Is this not accurate?

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you are right, %26quot;livetotravel%26quot;, Belgium has no mussels production of its own. Traditionally, you will find mussels from the dutch province of Zeeland next door to Belgium on the river Schelde estuary. In restaurants and shops, they are advertised as zeeuwse mossels or moules de zélande. They used to be some kind of dead cheap staple food until the nineties, when some major price hikes occcurred. This lead to increased competition from other areas in France (excellent moules de Bouchot!) and Spain. As with oysters, there are different sorts and flavours depending on their habitat etc.