The Great Shrimp Adventure
Wow, what a wonderful couple of days. Lots of hard work for no pay, but I learned so much and experienced so much. It all started about a year ago when I volunteered to work with Virginia Willis www.virginiawillis.com and Gena Berry www.culinaryworks.net when they needed help with a shrimping something.
Last year the trip was canceled due to storms and the Coast Guard saying "no way right now". I didn't have many details about the trip like where exactly we were going, what exactly we would be doing, but I was ready and disappointed that it didn't happen.
This past weekend all of my questions were answered and the trip happened! I discovered that this was a test shoot for a potential tv show, we were going to Saint Simon Island Georgia and I would do whatever was needed. Off we went!
On Friday I left my house to get to Gena's by 6:30 am so we could load the car and head to Saint Simon's Island. I discovered that I would be staying at Gena's mom's house. We made good time on the trip and were in Brunswick Georgia for lunch. We ate at a very small, delicious hot dog place. I got the pork sandwich.
We continued to Saint Simon where we checked out the docks and the shrimp boats. We wanted to meet our shrimp boat captain and find out the schedule for Saturday.
We met Brande, she seemed to be very nice and we agreed to meet her at the boat so we could leave the dock at 5 am Saturday. We headed to check into our sleeping places and then went to dinner and had wonderful fried shrimp. We went to bed about 10 since we needed to get up and going at 3:45 am.
Mike and Olivia getting ready to shoot, still dark but the sun does come up!
Brande and Virginia talking about how things will work with the nets, the nets in the water, the test catch and full nets.
Once the nets come up, the catch is released on the deck, the shrimp are sorted into baskets and then into the cooler.
We were quite popular with some of the other animals of the water. The seagulls followed us in hopes of food and while it did seem like we were in the movie The Birds, the seagulls did not come onto the deck and steal anything. They waited, not patiently, and yes we all but Gena were decorated with bird droppings. We also had the dolphins following the boat and a pelican. Very cool.
We got back to the docks about 2 pm and then had to hurry home to burn our clothes, take showers and get ready for guests for dinner that night. We were having a shrimp boil of course! Company was arriving at 6:30 at Gena's sister's house. We had appetizers to prepare, salads, grits and the main course. A feast.
I had a great time even though it was pretty exhausting. We finished Saturday about 11pm and I slept very well. We set no alarms for Sunday and I woke about 7am.
We had to pack to get ready to leave, we had to take the heads off of our personal shrimp, about 120 pounds and we had to drive back to Atlanta. I have about 5 pounds of fresh caught, hand cleaned, wild Georgia shrimp in my freezer for later.
We stopped for lunch before we left Saint Simon and did not have seafood. We ate wonderful barbecue pork sandwiches. Perfect!
I had a great weekend. We didn't really burn our clothes, they did get washed Saturday night. My Keds made it, I bleached them yesterday in the washing machine. My suitcase may not make it, it is pretty stinky. Nothing compares to the aroma of Virginia's car though. I hope the super detailing it needs will fix it.
This weekend was a test shoot for a tv show with Virginia Willis about food and what it takes to get to your dinner. I can't wait to see the film that Mike and Olivia shot. How cool to see what happens with food, the people, the love and passion they have. Let's hope we get to see some shows.
Last year the trip was canceled due to storms and the Coast Guard saying "no way right now". I didn't have many details about the trip like where exactly we were going, what exactly we would be doing, but I was ready and disappointed that it didn't happen.
This past weekend all of my questions were answered and the trip happened! I discovered that this was a test shoot for a potential tv show, we were going to Saint Simon Island Georgia and I would do whatever was needed. Off we went!
On Friday I left my house to get to Gena's by 6:30 am so we could load the car and head to Saint Simon's Island. I discovered that I would be staying at Gena's mom's house. We made good time on the trip and were in Brunswick Georgia for lunch. We ate at a very small, delicious hot dog place. I got the pork sandwich.
We continued to Saint Simon where we checked out the docks and the shrimp boats. We wanted to meet our shrimp boat captain and find out the schedule for Saturday.
We met Brande, she seemed to be very nice and we agreed to meet her at the boat so we could leave the dock at 5 am Saturday. We headed to check into our sleeping places and then went to dinner and had wonderful fried shrimp. We went to bed about 10 since we needed to get up and going at 3:45 am.
Mike and Olivia getting ready to shoot, still dark but the sun does come up!
Brande and Virginia talking about how things will work with the nets, the nets in the water, the test catch and full nets.
Once the nets come up, the catch is released on the deck, the shrimp are sorted into baskets and then into the cooler.
We were quite popular with some of the other animals of the water. The seagulls followed us in hopes of food and while it did seem like we were in the movie The Birds, the seagulls did not come onto the deck and steal anything. They waited, not patiently, and yes we all but Gena were decorated with bird droppings. We also had the dolphins following the boat and a pelican. Very cool.
We got back to the docks about 2 pm and then had to hurry home to burn our clothes, take showers and get ready for guests for dinner that night. We were having a shrimp boil of course! Company was arriving at 6:30 at Gena's sister's house. We had appetizers to prepare, salads, grits and the main course. A feast.
I had a great time even though it was pretty exhausting. We finished Saturday about 11pm and I slept very well. We set no alarms for Sunday and I woke about 7am.
We had to pack to get ready to leave, we had to take the heads off of our personal shrimp, about 120 pounds and we had to drive back to Atlanta. I have about 5 pounds of fresh caught, hand cleaned, wild Georgia shrimp in my freezer for later.
We stopped for lunch before we left Saint Simon and did not have seafood. We ate wonderful barbecue pork sandwiches. Perfect!
I had a great weekend. We didn't really burn our clothes, they did get washed Saturday night. My Keds made it, I bleached them yesterday in the washing machine. My suitcase may not make it, it is pretty stinky. Nothing compares to the aroma of Virginia's car though. I hope the super detailing it needs will fix it.
This weekend was a test shoot for a tv show with Virginia Willis about food and what it takes to get to your dinner. I can't wait to see the film that Mike and Olivia shot. How cool to see what happens with food, the people, the love and passion they have. Let's hope we get to see some shows.
Comments
[Add Comment]
Wow, what an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing it with us.
# Posted By Patti Anastasia
| 8/31/10 9:20 AM
Carlin - you do the coolest things! I love "catching" up with you via your blog.
# Posted By Diane Lestina
| 8/31/10 12:33 PM
That's so fantastic! I can't wait until Virginia comes back up to The Stonewall Kitchen school- her classes are always fun! Now I'll have to tell her I know you; always fun to have an "in" with the guest chef! :)
# Posted By Lynnie
| 9/6/10 8:54 PM
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