today’s KITCHEN | Fresh Local Dungeness Crab (or “Dunnies”!)

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A real treat, personally and foodily!!
Yeah, ok – that’s not a word…

This photo of my elder son, Kid Tt, just watching the Ocean go by as he waits for his crabby catch of the day makes me SO VERY HAPPY! This boy has loved oceans, sharks, fish etc since he was a wee lad. He used to know the names of about 60 different shark species, and even designed a “save the sharks” shirt that he sent over to Sharkwater people at one point (they were AMAZING and sent him back a bunch of shark info!).

Sure, he gets distracted by video gaming and rugby and school and other typical 15-yr old things, but to see him return now and then to his first pure love of the Ocean is truly a thing of beauty to a parent.

Which just goes to prove, ONCE in awhile, as a parent I totally nail it LOL.

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We’re incredibly lucky to live in such a gorgeous, ocean-mountain-field-forest type of city here in Vancouver with ABUNDANT resources of all kinds. I recently signed Tt (+ Hubby) up for a “Sea Foraging” class which really spoke to him. Who knew there was so much “free food” locally in exchange for a bit of time and patience? Off to buy traps he went, and the results have been – d e l i c i o u s.

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With a 4-crab maximum, he either lets his Momma tag along or grabs some friends. Often they’ll catch up to 6-8 Dungeness Crabs of proper size and sex (no females). They’re a bit smaller than the store-bought ones, but big enough for a good meal or two! And – freeeeeeeeeeee.

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Once the Dunnies are killed and boiled, we save a bit for fresh omelette or crab melts, and freeze the rest for another days treat. Tt’s recently asked for his own freezer downstairs to organize and store his crab and fish adventures LOL! And no wonder – he’s been a Foodie since before he could barely talk. At 5yrs old he would reject dishes in decent restaurants if it hadn’t been made properly, and by 8yrs would just bring food home and re-cook it if it wasn’t seasoned or cooked well. Weird kid – I think I’ll keep him.

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Tt comes by his love of food honestly – he’s grown up on fresh, homemade, locally grown (garden + markets) fares, truffle dinners and dishes of all varieties by myself and passionate Cook friends/family.

And in all that, you still just can’t beat a well-made omelette!

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YUM!

Do you fish or forage?
We have local Blackberries in abundance, friends who hunt or fish now and then, a nearby boulevard full of fully mature Fig trees, and much more – I’ve only just begun researching what can be found and where. But I think my favorite are still Tt’s fresh caught “Dunnies”!

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