One of the most intriguing culinary questions remains “who first had the courage to dine on the hard-shelled and somewhat vicious-looking creatures of the sea?” The answer is probably quite simple — someone who was extremely hungry! Whoever it was, we do know that diets that included shellfish have been with us for centuries. Throughout the development of civilization, shellfish have offered a significant source of nutrition.
The French are particularly adept at preparing shellfish. Paris is known for its assiette de fruits de mer, a fabulous tiered presentation of both raw and cooked seafood. The south of France offers the extraordinary fish stew bouillabaisse, and Marseilles is famous for its soupe de poisson de Marseilles.