Foraging for Seaweed

Sheila talks about Downe u3a's recent foraging trip on a beach - and what the group discovered about seaweed and its uses.

Members of Downe u3a had a marvellous and unusual day out at Crawford’s Rock near Kilkeel. Local businesswoman, Michelle Wilson, took them, armed with collecting bags, on a foraging trip along the shore, pointing out the different types of seaweed, which of them are best for cooking, which are ingredients of skin care products and which she recommended for a healthy seaweed bath.

With their collected seaweeds the group then retreated to a gazebo on the shore where they were served up some shlauch (or shlucht) seaweed with seaweed bread and cod roe. This was followed by many courses of local produce, langoustines, mussels, crab toes, haddock landed fresh in Kilkeel that morning, then steak, potatoes, seaweed and chilli chocolate, ending with Crawfords Rock Seaweed Company’s award winning peppermint and kombu tea.

The group agreed that it had been a day to remember, some were keen to try the seaweed bath, perhaps not so many were looking forward to cooking it, though notes will no doubt be compared on the taste of seaweed spaghetti when next they meet.

As Sheila said “This was another example of how you get so much more from visits when you have great company and someone telling you stories and pointing out things you would otherwise have missed. We had a fantastic day and will be back.