PORTARLINGTON MUSSELS
DIRECT FROM THE FARM TO YOUR PLATE
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DIRECT FROM THE FARM TO YOUR PLATE .
HAVE WE MET?
We’re Mike’s Mussels, a family run market stall. Every weekend, we bring the bounty of our Portarlington mussel farms to local Melbourne markets. We take pride in delivering the freshest produce directly from the ocean to your plates.
Nestled in the picturesque town of Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula, our farms benefit from the pristine waters that provide the ideal conditions for cultivating plump and flavourful mussels. Together with other mussel farming families we harvest each week.
LUNCH IS SORTED
MUSSEL BOWLS
We're foodie enthusiasts on a mission! Picture this: steaming bowls of mussels, lovingly prepared by none other than the mussel man himself. Yes, that's right! We thought, what better way to unlock the secret to mussel perfection than to have the maestro cook up a bowl just for you? Every weekend we get to steaming and serve up our mussels, just to get you addicted even more.
Now, we understand that mussels can be a little intimidating for those who are still finding their way around the kitchen. But fear not, we've got you covered. We’re working on a range of sauces and recipe cards, ready for you to take home and whip up your own feasts.
BIG PAN PAELLA
A match made in heaven - mussels and paella. What started as a small idea soon grew into a league of its own. Now our paellas draw just as big a crowd each weekend as our mussels do. Using local ingredients from other market store holders, we cook up big pan paella’s every weekend. On the menu is our famous seafood paella alongside chicken and vegetarian/vegan options.
FAQ’s
How are mussels harvested and farmed?
Mussel farming (aquaculture) involves long ropes suspended in the water with floats at the surface to keep them afloat. Mussel spat (young mussels) are seeded onto ropes and as the mussels grow they attach themselves to the ropes and are harvested once they reach the desired size.
How do I clean and debeard my mussels?
Start by examining your mussels and discard any that are severely broken or are open and don’t close when lightly tapped. The "beard" of a mussel is the fibrous threads that may protrude from the shell. This is used to anchor themselves to surfaces in their habitat. To remove, hold the mussel firmly in one hand and grab the beard with your other. Gently tug and pull the beard away from the shell. It should come off relatively easily. If it doesn't, your mussel is still fine to cook - the beard can be removed when steaming. You can clean your mussels further with a brush to scrub clean but we don’t usually bother being too pedantic!
Is mussel farming environmentally friendly?
Compared to other forms of aquaculture, mussel farming has a relatively low environmental impact to the surrounding ocean and minimal resource input as mussels are filter feeders, meaning to feed they filter small particles from the surrounding water. As they grow, mussels are left alone until its time to harvest.
How do I store and look after my mussels?
When you get your mussels home we recommend opening the bag and either placing a damp tea towel over them or place in a separate bowl with the tea towel covering. The idea is to keep them moist and ventilated (ie. not in a closed Tupperware container). Place at the bottom of your fridge and don’t let them sit in stagnant water. Consume fresh mussels within three to four days of purchase. Do not debeard your mussels until you are ready to cook them, once you do they will need to be cooked that same day.
How do you steam mussels?
Steaming mussels is very easy! Grab a wok or fry pan that has a fitted lid, add a small amount of water to the bottom of the pan (about half a cup), add your mussels, pop the lid on and wait 4-5mins as they steam over medium heat. You will know when your mussels are cooked as the shells will open. We recommend cooking your mussels separately to your sauce as often they release sea water which can make your sauce too salty if you’ve cooked them together.
What to do with mussels that don’t open when cooked?
When you don’t know when or where your mussels were harvested (ie. if buying from a large retailer) we suggest you discard any mussels that don’t open when cooked as they could likely be unsafe to eat. Our mussels are sold within a day or two of harvest and so we are confident in them being as fresh as they can get. Often at home we feel comfortable eating these mussels as sometimes they don’t open due to losing cartilage in their shells. Use commonsense and if a mussel smells “off” or you’re unsure, simply don’t eat it.
Upcoming markets and events.
You’ll find us every weekend at your local Farmers Markets around Melbourne. View the calendar to see where we’ll be popping up next!
What our customers are saying
MIKES KITCHEN
Get cooking with our easy to follow recipes and tips.
