Mussels are a feature ingredient in many classic French recipes. They are also a great bargain for seafood lovers compared with many other ocean delicacies. In New Zealand, a large bag of mussels that can feed up to 10 people will cost only $20.
New Zealand has native mussels called greenshells which can be purchased cheaply in the supermarket, or gathered from the coast. Those collected from the coast can be scrubbed before cooking, and it pays to gather more than you can eat because those that are cracked shouldn't be eating. Moules mariniere is a classic French recipe that's easy to prepare at home. You simply cook the mussels in a pot with white wine, onion and garlic that have been finely chopped. The total cooking time is just 5 to 10 minutes.