Shrimp, Prawns & Scampi

Distinctions between these three—the most popular of all shellfish—are somewhat hazy. Everyone agrees that the smallest are shrimp, which are scarcely more than 1 in/2.5 cm long. Tiny pink shrimp are a specialty of areas as far apart as Scandinavia and San Francisco Bay, and are familiar worldwide. Highly prized are the pungent, almost spicy, tiny gray shrimp from Britain and northern France. The effort involved in catching and shelling such small morsels means that they are expensive to buy. They are at their best in salads, with plain buttered bread or in a smooth bisque.