Gone Fishin'!

You know what? I missed you.

About a week ago I embarked out on an annual pilgrimage to the coast of British Columbia with Sparky's family; our eventual destination was the island of Haida Gwaii (formerly known as Queen Charlotte Island). I meant to let you know I was leaving, but two days' drive, a six hour ferry ride and a few days of vacation later, I'm just now getting to it. Though we stay in the sleepy little fishing town of Masset, I confess, I've been busy. There's family to catch up with, poker to play, scenery and wildlife to enjoy, and then? Then there's the crabs to catch.

In addition to being purportedly some of the best salmon fishing in the world, and the best place on earth to dig for razor clams (more on both of those things later), the beaches of Haida Gwaii act as spawning grounds for these gorgeous crustaceans - dungeness crab, some of the most delectable things you can drag out of the sea, in this foodie's opinion.

So I've been up most mornings, wiggling into my waders and grabbing my net to go with Sparky's family to the beach at early low tide to scoop up crabs in hip-deep surf on a beach where, on a clear day, one can see the southern tip of Alaska. You know what that means? Ocean fresh crab cakes. And you know what else? That's great news for you.

(Forgive the photo quality, please, I was too busy putting this in my face to worry about color balance.)

I'm here on the island for about ten more days, and I should be properly back to blogging around August 14th; I'd hoped to do some more while I was here, but there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day. But I hope I'll bring home enough presents that you'll forgive me - a bounty of razor clams, salmon and halibut to cook for you, and pictures to go with them.

If seafood ain't your thing, no big deal, I've got a lot of other things to show you when I get home, too - raspberry sorbet, homemade soda syrups, bison steaks and pork butt (which does not actually come from the pork's butt) and the best homemade wheat sandwich bread I've ever come across, etc. . . Just to give you a quick taste. Don't worry. I haven't forgotten you; I'm just getting started.

In the meantime, if you're hungry, check out the links in the sidebar at the right for direction to other food blogs that'll make your mouth water. . . and I'll meet you back here in a few days!