Pilaf with Mussels

To cook mussel pilaf in Odesa, first you need to go to the ferry terminal and buy mussels. They should be large and bluish-black in color and shine like patent-leather shoes. Once you’re back home, you need to clean them. Firmly pull the beard from the shells, decisively and without hesitation—even the hungriest cat wouldn’t eat that. This is an ideal job for someone in the family who can’t hide or pretend to be busy because preparing mussels involves a lot of fuss.

This pilaf recip