A Taste of the sea in Marseilles

MARSEILLES’ QUAI DE RIVE NEUVE IS LINED WITH ‘DÉGUSTATION COQUILLAGES’ SIGNS. THE LUSCIONS, SALTY OYSTERS ‘CÔTES BLEUES’ ARE PREFERRED, OR SPIKY SEA URCHINS CUT OPEN TO REVEAL OZONE-SWEET MOUTHFULS OF CORAL. ONLY REAL SHELLFISH FANS CAN FACE THE FUNGUS-LIKE EXTERIOR OF THE VIOLET OR FIGUE DE MER (SEA FIG). CUT OPEN IT REVEALS A SPONGY GREY INTERIOR FILLED WITH WHAT COULD ONLY POLITELY BE DESCRIBED AS VERY WET SCRAMBLED EGGS. THIS, SCOOPED OUT WITH THE THUMB & CONSUMED, STILL QUIVERING, WITHOUT BENEFIT OF BREAD OR LEMON, REWARDS THE COURAGEOUS WITH AN OVERPOWERING BUT DELICIOUS TASTE OF THE SEAEVEN BETTER THAN OYSTERS.