Stay on top of what’s happening in the Bay Area with essential Bay Area news stories, sent to your inbox every weekday. The Bay Bay Area-raised host Ericka Cruz Guevarra brings you context and ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A bowl of cooked mussels - Carlo A/Getty Images The fruits of the ocean are varied and bountiful. Oysters, scallops, shrimp, clams ...

They’re quick to cook, full of flavor, and instantly elevate any meal—from beachy appetizers to elegant main courses. But before mussels hit the pan, there's one part that often feels more daunting ...

The mussels’ beards (which cooks remove before preparing them) are made up of byssal threads and are used to help keep the mussels tethered in place. At the end of each thread is a disc-shaped plaque ...