Is it my imagination, or are there a lot more anemones on the reefs here in Cozumel?
Anemone life
- Thread starter Snoweman
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These guys?
Denser population of them back home in the Arctic ocean, but seems to be more in cozumel than other spots I've seen in Carribean.
Denser population of them back home in the Arctic ocean, but seems to be more in cozumel than other spots I've seen in Carribean.
El Graduado
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My wife and I used to travel a lot in Spain. Being adventurous eaters, we would happily order anything we had never heard of before and usually were pleasantly surprised with what we got. Once, we were at a sea-side bar in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and I noticed a strange sight on the counter. It was a large, Pyrex dish full of seawater and anemones. The way they were all crowded in together, it was obvious they weren’t being raised like pets in an aquarium, so I asked the bartender what they did with them. “We fry them and sell them,” he told me. “They’re called orteguillas del mar.”
This I had to try, so just like picking out a Maine lobster from a tank at a ritzy US restaurant, I picked out a dozen anemones from their Pyrex bowl with a pair of tongs the bartender proffered and put them on the plate he held out for me. Carrying them back to the kitchen, he told me to go and enjoy the view on the terrace while the cook dredged and fried the little critters. Apparently, they were acquainted with my momma’s philosophy on fry-cookin’.
A few minutes later, the waiter brought out a steaming plate of what looked like fritters. Biting into the first one, I was surprised by the creamy texture inside. The taste was very similar to a fried oyster. A squeeze of lemon was all they needed. I ordered a couple dozen more.
The other day I got to thinking of the ortiguillas at Sanlúcar de Barrameda and wondered if the anemones in Cozumel would be as good as the Spanish ones? I have been searching for more info, but so far have had no luck finding anyone who has eaten the kind of anemones that live in Cozumel waters. I guess I’ll just have to experiment.
This I had to try, so just like picking out a Maine lobster from a tank at a ritzy US restaurant, I picked out a dozen anemones from their Pyrex bowl with a pair of tongs the bartender proffered and put them on the plate he held out for me. Carrying them back to the kitchen, he told me to go and enjoy the view on the terrace while the cook dredged and fried the little critters. Apparently, they were acquainted with my momma’s philosophy on fry-cookin’.
A few minutes later, the waiter brought out a steaming plate of what looked like fritters. Biting into the first one, I was surprised by the creamy texture inside. The taste was very similar to a fried oyster. A squeeze of lemon was all they needed. I ordered a couple dozen more.
The other day I got to thinking of the ortiguillas at Sanlúcar de Barrameda and wondered if the anemones in Cozumel would be as good as the Spanish ones? I have been searching for more info, but so far have had no luck finding anyone who has eaten the kind of anemones that live in Cozumel waters. I guess I’ll just have to experiment.
OP
JamesBon92007
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Two weeks ago I saw zero on the east side and two in Columbia deep, one green and one pink (I think both condy, Condylactis gigantean). That's more for me since it was my first Coz dives 
I think that people who spear lionfish may be feeding them to anemones...since they won't start following divers around and begging for food. Maybe the anemones like them.
El Graduado
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So, I take it that no one else has tried dining these Caribbean varieties of anemones?
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