It is a cool spring morning in the London metropolis. Located in the middle of Liverpool Street station, a group of people gather. Each one emanating a hidden dynamite of excitement. Centred amongst them is Rob, or should i say daddy cool. From 9.30 til quarter to 10, he herds each one of them together and gets quietly frustrated, when he finds out one or two have scattered to the loo or went for a quick little exploration of the station.
Today, is the day that many have been waiting for. The one day of the year that everyone is off, at the same time and gathered together. The restaurant is closed for the day and the kitchen has been turned upside down and inside out. Contractors, have spent the morning hours rearranging it and installing a few new toys for us chefs to play with.
The modern pantry teletubbies, get on the train and we proceed down through Stratford and pass the gigantic building site that is soon to be the London Olympics. As you look around, you can distinguish each one of us by strong abnormal and sometimes, totally mental characteristics. Miss Singapore summer, sits at the back wearing a cheeky little black dress with matching bikini. The Italian stallion behind me, spots an article in my open paper about U2. Thus igniting another passionate rendition on how much he loves Bono. The cobra sits to the next row of seats from me with another equally hyperactive Spaniard. Maybe they were on the skittle vodka, the night before, (recipe to follow). Lizzy sits next to me, knees on seat, scanning the scene with long flowing hair, youthful eyes and a far to innocent smile. Rob shows his love to the camera.
The Before Shot
Everyone is far too sober for my liking. The bubbly appears and the first of many drinking sessions begins. Soon after, cake boy, presents his hard work from the night before. Crumbs of carrot and chocolate cake fill the train floor and i get my early dose of sugar. The two fair ladies struggling to behave themselves, sit drinking champagne, out of Costa coffee cups, in true elegant Essex style.
The start of a day, soon to be filled with drunkenness and much much debauchery........has barely begun.
We arrive at the local train station and hop into taxis. As, we all look out of the windows the car falls silent. We Londoner's haven't really seen countryside for a while and are in awe at the its majesty. Green plains of grassy fields pass by. A single pheasant trots along in a field nearby and all I can think of is a juicy roast. The hedgerows are filled with a hidden foragers treasure chest. Houses dotted along the narrow country road, post signs, local produce for sale. Eggs, potatoes, home grown vegetables.
We finally arrive at the fishery and the strong scent of the sea air hits us carried by a chilly coastal breeze. It is located on the east of Mersea island. The fishery is a quint arrangement of buildings, almost built in such a way, that they are architecturally sensitive to the surrounding landscape. A landscape of grassy embankments, shallow sandy mud flats and a wild sea channel. Dotted by by little fishing boats and large piles of oyster shells.
We gather upstairs to the main lunch room. Sitting outside the door is a reminder of my primary school days. A glass display box with various different shells and treasures from the sea. A jolly bearded guy greets us. Graham, an almost Santa Clause like appearance is the main manager at the fishery. One of a few other humble by passionate people, we are soon to met on our visit. Excitement and curiosity gets the better of us and soon, like little sheep, groups of us wander off outside to explore, as we wait for Ian, the other guide for the day. Others wait inside, out of the cold, blackberries buzzing and the slight sound of texting fingers prevail. We may of left the city but the city hasn't left us.
Finally, Ian arrives and we are split into two groups. We proceed downstairs and into the main building. Laid out on a table is a gathering of various mollusc's and shellfish. Many of the different items Colchester also sources from different suppliers. Everybody is excited by a massive lobster. I phones, smart phones and blackberries are out, taking pictures and videos. We are taken into the filtering room.
The quality of the oysters from sorting/grading after harvest to a 42+ hour filtering process distinguishes the quality of Colchester's oysters from any other competitors. Recent visits by the water inspectors find that the water at the fishery is of true crystal clear quality. The filtering of the oysters in tall stacked pull out shelves, results in a cleaner, purer, fresh product with no inner grit or grainy exterior shell. UV light tubes, kill of any remaining bacteria or micro-organisms in the filtering water. Each shelf allowing the water to slowly flow through and cascade onto the lower levels via perforated containers.
All this quality control measures, is true testiment to the list of high profile clients they supply to. For example, Gordon Ramsey Holding's, The Ritz, The Gavroche, Heston Blumenthal and off course, The Modern Pantry.We walk through the packing shed and benches are filled with beautifully handcrafted thin plywood like crates with the colchester fishery logo. Each one individually binded together with little metal stables. The result of years of hard work and passionate craftsmanship. Outside the front of the building, a deep long channel is laid out in front of a small water reservoir. Covered by sliding tin roofs. Like miniature little sheds. Oyster graders, work in shallow water sorting through oysters caught that day.
We regroup upstairs in the lunch area. Tables are set with bread and wine. Before us, on a long table is a true bounty of the Essex sea. A shellfish lovers dream. Platters, of langoustines, lobsters, pots of hot steaming mussels and little crab salads filled with its sweet soft juicy meat. For starters, fresh lush, oysters on the half shell. Everyone gathers round and downs one or two with a little of the shallot vinegar dressing or a squeeze of lemon juice. A few oyster virgins, try their first ever raw oyster with a slightly squemish look on their face. As, for the true hard core oyster fans, only au natural will do. They have the lightest and most purest flavour. A slightly more refined taste to my native Irish oyster. Although, you are still guaranteed to find a Strangford in a few London oyster bars. Especially Corrigan's.
The best part of the day has commenced and we are joined by the most humbliest, passionate and kindred hearted people. Ian & Graham, our guides and another member of the sales team. Alex, who speaks with a soft South African accent mixed with a slight Essex twang. Wine is guzzled down, bread broken and empty shells are piled up on empty plates. Flavours, alcohol and under the infleunce convsersation fills the room. The wild kids, scatter outside, in a more drunken state of mind and attention turns to the adventure filled shore.
The sensibles, stay behind, out of the cold and continue conversing with the Colchester crew. Alex, entertains us with her stories of her South African family. The two boys, join in with finishing off the wine. We all nibble on cheese, failing to try and sober up for the journey home.
Colchester Fisheries is one of those companies, you know, just from their long history and few hard working, dedicated and passionate staff that they produce an excellent produce. There is no doubting this, from the list of high profile clients. The only way of continually remembering the experience and taste of a good product is going straight to the source. Sampling, its exquisidness, surrounding by the environment it came from. Wind swept grassy, shores, cool clean waters and naturally sustainable regrowing seabeds.
Made all the more enjoyable by friendly, generous, uniquely charismatic, and ultimately passionately motivated oyster producers. Colchester, in London, means only one thing, quality oysters.
Now all we have to get sorted with, is getting back to london without falling out of the train, drunk.
"Aint that right Diego".
The After Shot
Recipe: Skittle Vodka
One 3/4 full bottle of vodka
As many packets of skittles, you can get ur hands on
One obssesive sugar addicted victim
One dishwasher on hot rinse cycle
Fill bottle of vodka with loose skittles until it fills the space left from the 1/4 measure of vodka from a full bottle. Screw cap back on firmily. Place in an empty dishwasher machine. Put on full or rinse cycle. As long as its a hot one. Proceed to poach super sweet concotion until skittles fully melt and infuse into vodka.
Please note; This recipe should only be made, if you have had a few drinks in you already. Cause, no mentally insane sober person would even think of doing this. Unless your related to the Jack Ass crew.
.......... Heres one I prepared earlier
Beware, The crazy Modern Pantry Teletubbies, u have been warned.......
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