Inspiration: The Hog Island Oyster Bar, San Francisco





As far as Brian and I are concerned, no trip to San Francisco is complete without at least one afternoon spent perched at the counter of the Hog Island Oyster Bar, located in the Ferry Building at the terminus of Market Street. Our first priority on these visits, of course, is to slurp down a mess of oysters (which are harvested from Hog Island's very own farm on Tomales Bay). But once that mission is fulfilled, we're almost always game for more substantial fare.

Hog Island serves up a gloriously oozy grilled cheese, and its chowder is easily the world's clammiest. Also on the menu is a hearty and flavorful dish of clams cooked with chorizo and white beans. It's just not fair that people in the Bay Area can eat this stuff whenever they want and the rest of us can't—so I concocted my own Hog Island-inspired recipe to whip up between trips.

I use milder Italian sausage instead of chorizo (I've also tried this with merguez, but we didn't love its lambiness with the clams), and tiny cockles because they happen to be my favorite variety of clam. With canned beans, this dish is simple, quick enough for a weeknight, and very tasty. I like to serve it with crusty bread (mandatory) and a salad (optional).





COCKLES WITH SAUSAGE AND CANNELLINI BEANS

1 pound sweet Italian sausage, removed from the casings
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 pounds scrubbed cockles
1 cup white wine
Red pepper flakes
1/4 cup chopped parsley

In a large pan with a lid, brown sausage, breaking it up as it cooks. Add garlic and cook for a minute or so. Add beans, cockles, wine, and pepper flakes. Cover pan and simmer until clams open, about 5-10 minutes (give pan a shake now and then).  Stir in parsley and taste for salt (you probably won't need any, as the sausage, beans and clams contribute quite a bit).

The Hog Island Oyster Company
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA
94111
415-391-7117


Categories: Main Dishes, Fish and Shellfish, Pork, Off the Menu, Travel
Technorati Tags: hog island oyster company, san francisco, ferry building, clams, seafood

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