Lurking in spiny armor below the waves, sea urchin is a luscious and briny delicacy. And for folks who treasure the taste, what’s better than getting it straight from the source?
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There will be ample opportunities to eat – and learn about – uni and California marine life at the fourth annual Mendocino Urchin Festival. It’s not just about food, though there’s that with local restaurants serving specials like uni-baked oysters and salmon with champagne-sea-urchin beurre blanc. There are coastal adventures, ocean foraging, lodging packages and a sake pairing with an uni-cooking demo, to name a few things happening in the three-day fest.
Folks can visit a real “Urchin Ranch” where the little guys are raised on land via aquaculture, sampling the difference between wild and farmed uni. There’s a “tide-pool talk” on a state beach where kids can search for hermit crabs and sea stars. And importantly, you’ll learn why it’s good to scarf urchins up, as keeping their numbers in check preserves the health of critical kelp forests.
Details: Events take place June 13-15 at various locations on the Mendocino County coast; some are free and others require tickets, for details visit www.urchinfest.com