23/11/2023
"The Periwinkle Seafood (Part 2): Piom Piom Delicacy
Piom Piom, a delectable Nigerian creation, features tastefully garnished shelled Periwinkle, originating from the south-southern region of Nigeria. This delicacy was initially devised for those who preferred a hassle-free way of enjoying Periwinkle without extracting the meat from its shell, is also known as PPT (Piom Piom Throway).
This savory dish can be adorned with kpomo, beef, cow tail, cowleg, goat head (Isi ewu), goat meat, Willie willie (chicken leg), dry fish, or snail, depending on your preference. Piom Piom stands out with its mouthwatering taste, accentuated by its notable pepper content, and pairs well with alcoholic beverages.
In my earlier discussion of Periwinkle Seafood, I emphasized the importance of choosing where to enjoy this delicacy and remaining vigilant while sucking the meat from the shell. In Piom Piom, the periwinkle is prepared with the shell, and cut at the tail end for easy consumption. Some restaurants, however, may neglect to remove spoiled or empty periwinkle shells, potentially introducing garnished debris into the dish. If you observe meat not coming out of the shell while sucking and mostly empty shells while consuming, it's a warning sign of decayed or spoiled periwinkle.
This issue arises when fresh-shelled periwinkle isn't adequately preserved.
Furthermore, when using periwinkle in any dish, caution is advised to prevent the 'ear' from sticking to your gums or teeth, this might cause you embarrassment or discomfort during or after eating. Some of those mirrors you see in restaurants are not for fancy, especially, when you eat meals containing periwinkle seafood.
An effective preparation method involves rinsing the periwinkles in lukewarm, salted water to remove mud, sand, and other impurities. After cutting the shell's tail end, a second wash with warm salt water ensures the removal of cracked shell particles and any remaining sand particles.
Your periwinkle is now ready for use.
Stay tuned for the upcoming write-up, focusing on the traditional preparation of Piom Piom.
- The Periwinkle Entrepreneur
Image credit: Delectable Star-Light DSL