I want to order a Geoduck in a local Chinese joint.?!
I want to order a Geoduck in a local Chinese joint.?
It's a whole in the wall reall authentic type place. Not much english floating around. I really want to try my first geoduck and I have noticed that the chef always brings it to the table fo rinspection. This is probily for freshness and size inspection. So now I feel like the wine newby and the sommelier. Magazines write about how to survive this all the time. But this isn't wine. And I don't speak Chinese. Any tips? I kind of hate to do the thing where you try the wine sip and nod "OK" like it meets your standards but you don't really have any standards. Ofcourse, I'm probibly not going to be rude enough to actually send anything back but JUST IN CASE!!!! I would love any input.
Answers:
They want you to inspect it so that you know that it is alive when they go to prepare it. If you have never seen one, don't be shocked! It's quite a sight. It should still be in the shell, with the siphon fully retracted, though it can't pull it all the way into the shell. But if you turn it on it's side the siphon or "neck" shouldn't flop over. The dark skin on the exposed parts should be intact and not feel slimy and it should have a good seawater aroma to it. Believe me they taste WAY better than they look, LOL. Enjoy