If you’ve ever seen a gooseneck barnacle, they’re probably one of the weirdest things you’ve ever witnessed. These crustaceans appear as a long stalk and are typically found on rocky coasts and are actually seen as a delicacy in some parts of the world such as Spain and Portugal. For a couple living in Alaska, gooseneck barnacles have practically become their livelihood. Now owners of a business revolving around these bizarre critters, they share their love for barnacles on social media.
A video posted with the wholesome/humor tag on r/TikTokCringe and captioned “I bet the sound feels so good when you bite it,” shares a compilation video of one of the owners, Lia, taking a bite out of gooseneck barnacles. She pulls out a long piece of barnacle and bites into it with the most satisfying crunch. Her husband Matt reveals that they use the peculiar-looking barnacles to make ‘Kelp Pickles.’ They then sell them through their business, Barnacle Foods.
Not taking the look of the barnacle into consideration, it does certainly sound appetizing. The crunch is unbelievable! It reminds me of the crunch of biting into a freshly-picked carrot. I’ve never tried a barnacle myself but just seeing this video gives me the urge to try one. Allegedly, they have a fresh saltwater flavor that can be compared to crab or lobster.
Some users on Reddit were displeased by how quickly it changed shots during the compilation. The video was compared to other fast-moving videos that have become popular now on social media. One commenter said, “What is with these god awful edits?” to which another replied, “It’s editing equivalent of someone snapping their fingers in your face” and another added, “Attention span decay.”
However, the couple’s other social media videos appear quite different and show the process of how things work at their business, with Lia chopping up a barnacle, and another where she uses the goosenecks as drumsticks and plays a little song, laughing along with it. You can tell that this couple really loves their business and what they’ve grown with one another.
It definitely makes me want to take a boat out and try some fresh gooseneck barnacles, though. After reading comments like “They’re salty wet crunch seaweed – pretty good” and “Kelp pickles have a ton of nutrients, they wash up on shore. The crunch, taste and nutrients you get from these make them a nice little treat.” I may be seeing an order from Barnacle Foods in my future, after all.
