What Is Fruits De Mer?
Fruits de mer is an array of seafood and dipping sauces commonly served cold as an appetizer or hors d’oeuvre. As the origins of the name suggest, this dish is native to France and is widely served in many regions of the world, particularly in coastal cities and towns where there is a ready supply of seafood. Using fresh seafood is very important because fruits de mer traditionally includes raw seafood and food safety is a concern. This dish can include an assortment of raw and cooked seafood including shrimp, mussels, clams, lobster, and crab. The seafood is laid out on a platter and the dish is brought out with dipping sauces. A variety of sauces can be used, including spicy chili sauces and creamy mustard sauces. For food safety reasons, people often serve fruits de mer on ice, with the ice keeping the seafood at a cool temperature to inhibit bacterial growth.
