mussels

Preferably collected away from sandy beaches.

get the 2-3" ones, if your gonna get the big ones, just bbq them, use the smaller ones for cioppino, and stews.  Your not allowed to use any hand tools either.  I like to use rubber masonry gloves.  I bring a bucket, a scale, gloves, scissors and a bbq brush.  I collect 8-9 lbs (limit is 10), then go find a nice tidepool spot to clean the outside with the heavy wire brush and scissors.  It takes me a bout 1.5 hours, from door to door at my favorite spot. 

I rty not to take them all from one spot so that I don't deplete my area, unless they are growing on top of each other.  Grab them and twist real hard. 

The red tide a month ago was really nasty thick, it was a cerertium, which has the potential to carry a very harmful toxin.  So I'm gonna wait a little longer.