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Madness Mid Winter at Hairy Mussel

Not really a time of year we usually associate with being crazy busy but winter 2011 is turning into a blur of mammoth proportions.  New packhouse, new scope, new products, new idea’s, of which we seem to have many and lining all these baby dolls up to shine above the rest is full time and full on for the entire hairy team.  We have high expectations of our business and the service we provide but simply want all our products to be the best, to never disappoint and to be recognized as a quality brand domestically.

So we’ve been rolling up our sleeves, smoking fish, mussels and eel!

Making chowder, yum oh by the way, and marinating mussels in real vinegar.   We’ve certainly tasted a lot of smoked product this winter but we are feeling pretty healthy for it!

Ski season has hit, just in time for school holidays and the orders have gone up which means everyone will be a little busier and we could all do with that.  So rolling the sleeves just a little further we hope this upward trend carries on into spring, world cup and then summer.  We’re good to go!

 

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The beginning of the start…

I know I’m being optimistic but that is how I work. The shortest day is nearly upon us and yes that means that we are in the deepest, darkest and the quietist, quietist time. Especially in the South Island, because there isn’t many people here and more so this year with the shakes in Christchurch. It is however, looking on the bright side, the beginning of the journey toward the longest day! This is the time when winter decides to kick into gear, we get some snow, there’s a little action around the country side, Aussies in camper vans and kiwi’s jammed into steamed up vehicles clutching their season passes.

That phase is over pretty quickly and then holy Toledo, it’s Spring and there doesn’t seem to be much time to get organized for…Summer!! And what happens in summer but we all get crazy busy and wish we’d spent more time in the quiet time, planning ahead for summer!

Anyway, my point is, Hairy Mussel Co and Seafood Deli are deep in the middle of a development phase at the moment and thriving with it. Learning, experimenting, marketing and defining systems so when we launch into spring/summer 2011, we reckon we’ll be ready for it.

Smoked fish is cracking along and trying not to be biased I think it Rocks! Marinated mussels are not to be overshadowed and smoked mussels are going to fly out the door the second they hit the fridge. Fresh Fish is available as the weather has been kind to our fisherman in Kaikoura, and our local customers have been incredibly supportive of our little shop.

We will be advertising in July for a Chef/Fish Monger/Entertainer to start in the spring. This role will be a stunning opportunity for somebody special out there to go fourth and conquer, get the people talking about Hairy Mussel Co and the Seafood Deli, a ‘must visit’ destination in the top of the south.

Filed Under: Seafood Deli

Hairy Mussel Seafood Deli

Come and check it out! We are open and thrilled to make a start!

Fresh fish now reaches us less than 24 hours from the sea; we cut it in our packhouse and present it in our Seafood Deli, Havelock.

The shop has attracted a lot of local interest which is really exciting and it is great to see so many familiar faces coming back. The locals are fantastic in motivating us to maintain a high standard and great variety as they are the ones who are here all year round.

The fish is weather dependent of course so when we have fresh fish, don’t hesitate to get in or you will miss out.

Oysters – Live Fresh like our mussels – also in the pottle and come Spring battered to order, yum oh!

Oysters have been a feature. They are supplied by a couple of different farmers in and around the Marlborough Sounds. They have been nurturing the shellfish through the autumn and they are looking great for the coming seasons.

The smoker has arrived and that is seriously exciting. We bought the ‘real deal’ with buttons and flashing lights and can this thing smoke!

Smoked fish is a whole new dimension for Hairy Mussel Co and offers us a ‘ready to go’ product that can be gobbled up straight away or added to your picnic or tapas. Paired with a cheeky Marlboroough Sav and a cracker…. Too Good!

I won’t bore you with all the Hairy’s comings and goings in this update. Needless to say there is never a dull moment, there are curveballs round most corners and never enough hours in a day but due to our outstanding crew, the Hairy Mussel Co is leading the charge in Live Fresh Mussel Distribution and a few other bits and bobs.

So don’t hesitate to come in and see us or email us for our price list!

 

Filed Under: Seafood Deli, The Hairy Lifestyle

Hairy Mussel Co – Stamped our mark on Port Havelock

The Hairy Mussel Retail Store

Yup, it’s been awhile in the making but we are nearly there.  Hairy Mussel Co Retail store is now just two weeks away from opening and while it will be a huge learning curve for us, perhaps a little scary as we have always been behind closed doors, it is also a very exciting venture that we are thrilled to be launching into.

Mussel sales will be our obvious strength but there will also be Fresh Oysters supplied from a handful of committed growers in and around the Marlborough Sounds.  Fresh fish direct from the fisherman and fisherwoman who are passionate about their product and want to see it go to a good home, quickly!  You’ll have to be in quick but we can let you know what we have and when we will have it so keep in touch for the freshest available products on the day.

Our new Hairy Mussel Sauce, Red Dress for dressing up your tucker, will be available soon and this brew is friends with all sorts of food but especially nice with seafood.  This will be available to try with mussels that we cook in the shop, served in a potato plate with fresh lemon, to takeaway through the winter months.

We are opening shop heading into the quieter times in our region but feel positive that this gives us time to cook up a storm, creating a fabulous mussel pattie, mussel chowder that we hope to have available in those winter months & the ultimate batter for mussels that melt in your mouth. Then, heading into the spring/summer with all these accessories alongside the fresh options, we hope to provide a seafood deli experience like no other.

Store hours for May, June & July will be 10am – 3.30pm, Tuesday through to Friday.

 

 

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Big Plans for Fresh Greatness

The Hairies have taken the plunge & moved into brand new Mussel Quarters which are located on the stunning port zone in Havelock, Marlborough.

Our office is no longer in the garden shed & the staffroom is a room! No longer tucked away behind closed doors, The Fresh People are bursting out with a flash new Retail store providing fish direct from the fisherman in Kaikoura and cut on site in our new packhouse. Weather dependant of course so when they’re catching, we’ll have it fresh so you will have to be quick!

Live Mussels will be available and takeaway cooked mussels in the shell with a wedge of lemon, our signature dish famous from food festivals around the countryside. We will also offer a handful of quality, toppo Marlborough products that we rate & love to promote.

We have built a beautiful little smoking room into the building, no cigars & scotch, we’re going to smoke salmon & fish so you can cruise on in & pick up some good to go tucker to add to the entree platter. We want to create food that tastes sensational & has been produced with love, this equals customers coming back or ordering on line for the taste sensation unique to Hairy Mussel Co.

All this retail stuff is new to us but we love a challenge, we love to keep things fresh & exciting. We’ll start off slowly, get it right & introduce new products through the different seasons and when they are available so there is always something to look forward to.

New Packhouse

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Sea Run Chinook Salmon

We’ve just introduced a great new product to our store, Sea run Chinook Salmon.

Chinook Salmon, also known as King Salmon and also Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. (say that with a mouthful of Salmon!!), is farmed in the pristine waters of the Marlborough Sounds by Pacifica King Salmon. Its currently harvested late Sunday and processed and dispatched first thing Monday, so freshness is guarenteed! We currently supply Whole fish, Fillets or Steaks.

Salmon Steaks.

These are great value for money, a real treat and yet so easy to cook. Throw them on the Barbecue, a few minutes each side until the flesh just starts to flake. Mind you, its not exacly Barbecue weather!, so I just “sear” each side in a frypan and then bake in the oven for about 5 mins. Roast a few veges together, some buttered peas and suddenly you’ve got a great looking and tasty meal. So hopefully by now you have a serious case of the “munchies”, so check out our store. Enter Store

Cartage rates

For you “North Islanders”, watch this space, as wer’e about to launch some really good cartage rates in the next couple of weeks.

Salmon, Sea run Chinook, King Salmon


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Storage of Mussels


Eating hot spicy food is one good way of beating the Winter cold. The beauty of mussels, is they go so well with hot spices, particulalry cooked Thai style. I’m busy trying to find a really good Thai recipe, that is simple to make, so watch this space. The downside of Winter is it can affect the availability of mussels, so often you need to order a few more to tie you over until the next harvest.

How to store your Mussels

Mussels will keep for up to 4 – 5 days in the fridge. Just put the mussels in a bowl and place a damp cloth over the top. Everyday, drain off the mussel liquid. Smell the mussels, they should smell just like the Sea. When your’e ready to cook, rinse the mussels through with clean water. Discard any mussels that remain open. Its as simple as that. Mussels can also be frozen…but that’s another story.


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Winter Blues


Its official, we had the wettist June on record, and along with the cold weather, its had a real impact on Mussel condition. The mussels are spawning and the overall growth has slowed right down.
Quality.
The Hairy team have decided to slow down production as we pride ourselves on quality. We’d rather wait until the mussel condition improves and they become plump and juicy.
Mussel Cravings.
The only real good thing about not getting as many mussels now, is you really look forward to when they do come back on stream…like most of the better things in life! We’ll keep you posted…


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Mussel Quality

We’re getting a real nice run of mussels at the moment. They’re really plump and juicy and taste great. The team at the packhouse are working hard to sort out those mussels that don’t make the grade to ensure only the “choicest” mussels are sent to customers. When you purchase mussels and get them home, you’ll notice sometimes that a few mussel shells have opened up. Don’t throw them out just yet!…give them a tap and/or just leave them on the bench for a couple of minutes. If the mussels close up then they are fine. Sometimes when they are open they maybe looking to feed (they are filter feeders) or they may just be getting stressed..usually a sign the mussels have got too cold or too hot. And finally, if they still remain open, then yes they are probably in mussel heaven. Mind you, you should’nt get any dead “Hairy Mussels” cos we only pack them fresh!! Why don”t you go to the store and buy some and see how good they are.

Go visit the store

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Mussels and Rain


Well, the rain kept coming and we ended up with a huge amount over the long weekend. As a result the Marlborough Sounds were closed off for Mussel Harvesting. Luckily the Coromandel region remained open and we could still harvest and deliver mussels to our North Island customers.
It looks like the Marlborough Sounds won’t be clear for harvesting until the weekend, as long as the weather holds. So if your hungry for some delicious mussels, you have a few more days to wait….so here’s a yummy photo instead, steamed mussels in a spicy tomatoe sauce, just right to keep the Winter chills away!!


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