Charente-Maritime
The Charente-Maritime département of France on the Bay of Biscay, is noted for the abundance of mussels. The Éclade des Moules is a bake often held on the beaches outside of La Rochelle. The mussels are arranged in concentric circles on a plank so that the hinged part of the shell is facing up. Pine needles are mounded on top to a depth of a foot or so and set afire. The needles burn down quickly, producing a rich resinous smoke. Two or three minutes after the fire goes out, the ashes are swept away and the mussels are eaten directly from the shell along with country bread, butter, and white wine.
Read more about this topic: Seafood Boil