Grilled Scallops with Fennel

Heat grill to medium-high. Toss the scallops with 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small bowl until they are well coated. Slide 6 scallops onto each of 4 small skewer. Season with salt and pepper.

Cut fennel bulb in half lengthwise, cut out the core and slice crosswise into ¼-inch-thick slivers. Toss with remaining ½-tablespoon oil, and season them with salt and pepper.

Heat an oil slicked skillet until quite hot. Do not use too much oil. We are not frying the fennel. Then add the fennel in as close to one layer as possible.

Let it sit undisturbed until it begins to brown. Then stir the pan and cook until the fennel wilts about 5 minutes. In the meantime, place skewers on grill over direct heat. They should sizzle. Grill on one side until the scallops develop golden brown grill marks, about 1 to 2 minutes. Then turn them once and continue cooking another minute or so longer. They just be barely cooked through and rare.

Remove from grill and allow them to rest 2 or 3 minutes.

Remove scallops from skewers.

Serve warm with the fennel and linguine.