Aaronap Drunken Mussels

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Cape Ann Fresh Catch!  You’ll get the freshest local fish straight off the fishing boats in Gloucester…and every once in awhile they have some special offerings like mussels from Prince Edward Island! Last week, we eagerly stopped by the pickup point to get our 3 lbs of Prince Edward Island mussels and then ran home to start making dinner.  And what better thing to pair with one of the greatest seafoods in New England?  One of the greatest local wines, of course!

Aaronap Drunken Mussels

2 tablespoons butter 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 lemon, zested 2 cups Aaronap Cellars 2014 Chardonnay (save the rest for the meal) freshly ground black pepper to taste 3 pounds mussels, cleaned and debearded 1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley Firm crust bread, grilled or toasted Lemon wedges for garnish
1)  Melt butter in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add garlic and let sizzle for about 30 seconds. Season with red pepper flakes and lemon zest, stirring for about 45 seconds. 2)  Quickly pour in wine into the pan and season with black pepper. Bring sauce to a boil, stir in mussels, and cover immediately. Shake pot and let boil for 1 minute. 3)  Stir mussels, replace cover, and let boil for 2 more minutes. The shells will begin to open. Stir in the parsley, cover pot, and cook until all shells are open, 1 to 3 minutes. 4)  Serve with grilled bread (we suggest a Blond Loaf from Purple Carrot Artisanal Bakery) and lemon wedges…..and a glass of Aaronap Cellars 2014 Chardonnay!
Now, most wine & food pairing blog posts feature a lovely picture of the wine beside the plated entree.  Well, we were s0 hungry that all we have to share is the remains of one of the most fabulous meals we’ve had in recent memory….   2014 Chardonnay_Mussels Yes, the pairing of the mussels with the wine were so good, that all we have to show for it is a bowl and plate of empty mussels shells beside an empty bottle of wine.  The floral & citrus aromas and minerality of the wine were a perfect pairing with the earthiness & brineness of the mussels. Be sure to grab some mussels and try this for yourself! Cheers, Noel]]>