Oyster lovers will gather to slurp, swoon, and celebrate the succulent bivalve at the Galway International Oyster Festival (Sept. 25-28). Now in its 60th year, the weekend event is deemed one of Europe’s longest-running food extravaganzas. Opening night kicks off with music, seafood, Ireland’s national shucking championship, and presentation of the season’s first oyster to Galway’s mayor by the newly crowned Oyster Pearl — a tradition since 1954. On Saturday, a parade weaves through the narrow medieval streets to the Spanish Arch and there’s a nonstop afternoon of food and entertainment. Representing the United States, Wellfleet’s William “Chopper” Young will vie to regain the title of world’s fastest oyster shucker— currently held by Denmark’s Jesper Knudsen — at the World Oyster Opening Championship. Events include late-night revels at Masquerade Mardi Gras, cooking demos, seafood trails, and Sunday’s family-friendly festival. Tickets $20-$130. 011-353-91-394637, galwayoysterfestival.com GO CHOPPER! MAY THE BEST SHUCKER WIN!!
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The first annual Battery Wharf Oyster Fest makes its debut on the Boston Harborwalk at Fairmont Battery Wharf (Sept. 21, 2-5 p.m.). Some of Boston’s best restaurants and chefs will combine forces with oyster growers for the afternoon event that includes live entertainment and small bites from Aragosta Bar & Bistro, Merrill & Co., Neptune Oyster, Puritan & Co., Row 34, and Tavern Road. Want some freshly shucked oysters? Growers from the Massachusetts Aquaculture Association will be showcasing their best bivalves: Moon Shoal, Chatham Shellfish Co., Indian Cove Aquaculture, Cotuit Oyster Co., Wianno Oysters, First Encounters, and Island Creek Oysters. Admission includes all food and two drink tickets. Proceeds benefit the Island Creek Oysters Foundation and Massachusetts Aquaculture Association. $65. Get tickets here!
So excited to be going to this...and the weather report is sunny and 80's. Yippee! Shaw's Oyster Fest Block Party returns to downtown Chicago on Friday, Sept. 26 from 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. Hosted by Chicago's premiere oyster bar, Shaw's Crab House, Oyster Fest brings together live music, Goose Island beers, fresh seafood including a variety of East and West Coast Oysters, Shaw's signature crab bites, sushi rolls, fried oysters, lobster rolls, BBQ bites from Bub City, and more. More than 3,000 guests are expected to come down to Oyster Fest and slurp up nearly 15,000 oysters from the East and West Coast, signature bites from Shaw's Crab House, Goose Island beer, and live music from singer/songwriter Brett Dennen. A high-energy Oyster Slurp Off will take place at Oyster Fest as last year's finalists go head-to-head with this year's contestants to see who will prevail as the slurping champion and take home the $1,000 prize. This year, Oyster Fest kicks-off the 30th anniversary festivities of Shaw's Crab House which will celebrate its 30th anniversary of the Oyster Bar in December 2014 and the dining room in April 2015. TICKETS: Tickets are available for pre-sale on September 3 for $20 using the code LOBSTER. Beginning Friday, September 5, general admission tickets will be available for $25. For more information, to view the full line-up and menu, or to purchase tickets, visit www.oysterfestchicago.com.
On August 19, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the creation of the Virginia Oyster Trail, a tourism development project designed to connect visitors to oyster purveyors, raw bars and restaurants, and the watermen culture throughout Coastal Virginia, the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula and Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
According to the press release: "Virginia’s oyster harvest increased by 25 percent from 2012 to 2013, with more than 500,000 bushels – the most in nearly a generation. Over the past 12 years, the oyster harvest in Virginia has increased from approximately 23,000 bushels in 2001 to last year’s level of just over 500,000. This is the highest level since 1987." That's a lotta oysters! The trail is only in the planning and development stage right now. However I'm impatiently waiting--oyster knife in hand--for the project to be finished. You hear me, Virginia? Oyster fans are ready for you! August 5 is National Oyster Day! Who decided that? Who cares! All I know is I now have an excuse (as if I needed one) to indulge in shucking and slurping one of my all-time fave foods. In honor of this momentous occasion I’m including a list of TEN fab oyster festivals you can attend this fall. You’re welcome! Milford Oyster Festival Aug. 15 Milford, Connecticut “30,000 Oysters & Clams brought to you by East Coast Shellfish Growers Association & the Annual Milford Oyster Festival.” http://www.milfordoysterfestival.com/ Shock Top Oyster Fest Sept. 6 Chicago, Illinois “Fresh oysters help kick off the unofficial start of autumn at this acclaimed post-Labor Day festival in Chicago’s trendy Roscoe Village neighborhood that's celebrating its 16th year in 2014. Tents housing fresh seafood as well as other culinary delights from local restaurants are but one highlight of what has grown over the years to become a truly unique change-of-season happening. There's also arts & crafts. Another major draw? An eclectic music lineup (past performers include The Human League, Alien Ant Farm, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir and Men at Work) plus a stellar lineup of several top Irish music acts.” http://www.chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=119 New York Oyster Week Sept. 12-28 “New York Oyster Week is a celebration of New York's sense of adventure and ingenuity through events and dining…Join us as we dine, cheers and revel to promote sustainable aquaculture, connect consumers with their food source and raise money and awareness for clean waterways, aquaculture education and the repopulation of protective and productive oyster reefs.” http://www.oysterweek.com/ Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival Sept. 25-28 Galway, Ireland “The oldest oyster festival in the world and the most internationally recognized Irish festival after St Patrick’s Day…Deemed one of Europe’s longest-running food extravaganzas…celebrating Galway’s rich annual oyster harvest. http://www.galwayoysterfest.com/ Falmouth Oyster Festival Oct 9-12 Cornwall, England “Falmouth Oyster Festival celebrates the start of the oyster dredging season, the diversity and quality of Cornish Seafood and in particular, one of the last remaining traditional oyster fisheries, dredging by sail and hand punt.” http://www.falmouthoysterfestival.co.uk/ Wellfleet OysterFest Oct. 18-19 Wellfleet Massachusetts “This two-day family festival celebrates the town's famous oysters, clams and shellfishing traditions bringing together locals and visitors alike for a weekend full of hometown flavor and big time fun! There is something for everyone: local cuisine, arts and crafts, educational programs, cooking demonstrations, children's activities, walking tours, live music, a road race, and the annual Oyster Shuck-Off competition.” http://www.wellfleetoysterfest.org/ St. Mary's County Oyster Festival Oct. 18-19 Leonardtown, Maryland “Oysters served up raw, scalded, grilled on the barbie, on bread, on the half shell, stewed, nude, cooked in savory sauces, in salads, even in desserts, just about every way imaginable and then some.” http://usoysterfest.com/ The Florida Seafood Festival Oct 31-Nov. 1 Apalachicola , Florida “The Florida Seafood Festival is a two day event annually drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the historic town of Apalachicola in scenic Franklin County. The Festival is held at the mouth of the Apalachicola river under the shady oaks of Apalachicola's Battery Park. The festival features delicious seafood, arts and crafts exhibits, seafood related events, musical entertainment. Events include Oyster Eating and Oyster Shucking contest, Blue Crab Races, Photo Contest, Parade, 5k Redfish Run, The Blessing of the Fleet ,History of the Festival Exhibit, Fireworks Show and King Retsyo's Ball.” http://www.floridaseafoodfestival.com/ The Clayoquot Oyster Festival Nov. 12-15 Tofino, BC “What began in 1997 as a one night event to break up the winter blues and call attention to a sustainable aquaculture industry has now grown in to four days of oyster events that include a costume party, oyster farm tours, restaurant events and a gala featuring chefs competition all in the name of Clayoquot Sound’s love of eating oysters and feeling good.” http://www.oystergala.com/ Urbanna Oyster Festival
Nov. 7-8 Urbanna, Virginia Festival Village, waterfront educational activities, entertainment. carnival and pony rides, wine testing, shucking competition, and more. http://www.urbannaoysterfestival.com/ So excited to hear about Proud Pour, a NYC company that focuses on addressing major environmental problems through wine. August 1st is the launch date for their first product, The Oyster, a Central Coast of California Sauvignon Blanc that is designed to be paired with its succulent namesake. What does wine have to do with saving oysters, you ask? For every bottle sold, 100 oysters are restored to NY Harbor's historic (and functionally extinct) oyster population. According to their press release: “Reviving the oyster population is supremely important for many reasons, but this is the main impact of 100 oysters: 1. Organically filter up to 5,000 gallons of water daily 2. Help sea plants receive sunlight by reducing excess nitrogen in the water. 3. Create reefs & habitats for fish, crabs, birds and other organisms.”
Yeah, we knew that. But we didn't know that drinking wine (a favorite activity) can help revive NY's oyster population. From the tasting notes: The wine has a rich bouquet of honeydew melon, freesia flowers, and tropical lime zest. These hints of melons and tropical lime transition onto the palate and are accompanied by flavors of lemon-lime/citrus rind and a bright acidity. The mouth feel has an ethereal quality, silky up front leading to a chalky minerality in the finish. A very consistent and vibrant profile. Cheers to Change! And bottoms up! I spotted U.S. National Shucking Champion William "Chopper" Young on a float in the 4th of July parade in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Could he be practicing for the international oyster opening competition in Galway, Ireland? This marks the 60th year of festivities at the Galway Oyster and Seafood Festival (September 25-28). If you've never been, book your tickets NOW and go cheer for Chopper as he represents the USA. Oh yes, and eat some fabulous oysters!
Last week I visited the Sanderling Resort in Duck, North Carolina, and had dinner in Kimball’s Kitchen, their onsite stylish (but not stuffy) revamped fine dining restaurant with stunning views of the Currituck Sound in the Outer Banks. And, of course, we started our meal with oysters. The menu featured four selections from Virginia, and we sampled them all. Our collective comments: Rappahannock, Topping, VA: Mild. Sweet. Slight salty finish. Muted. Minerally. (My personal fave.) Mobjack Bay, Gloucester, VA: Tidal, minerally, saline. Lots of character. Check out these elongated shells! Sewansecott: The "house" oyster. Sweet. Not as much body as Mobjacks. Quick finish. Lynnhaven, Virginia Beach, VA: Bland. A bit watery. Our least favorite. A selection of mignonettes including traditional, marinated cucumber, pickled watermelon and chili vinegar (for those who like them) was served in bright and cheery in orange glass bowls. As the sun set, also orange, and dreamy, we toasted the end of the day and our tasty Virginia oysters before ordering the rest of our meal. The restaurant is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from May 1, 2014- October 26, 2014. Kimball's Kitchen will also be open Sunday, May 25, July 6 and August 31 over the holiday weekends. Download the full menu here.
We had a fabulous three days at Sanderling. Can't wait to return! So excited to have my Toronto oyster-eating story as the cover of the Boston Globe travel section! So many oysters...so little time. Big slurpy oyster hugs and kisses of thanks to those who helped make this happen!
My friend and fellow oyster aficionado Dabney Oakley alerted me to a disturbing story on Watchdog.org about an injunction filed in York County, Virginia that would shut down operations for two small oyster farmers, Greg Garrett and Anthony Bavuso.
Virginia: What are you thinking? “York County officials say the oystermen’s odiferous crop poses a nuisance to neighbors.” Say what? Since when do oysters smell like anything other than the sea? Here’s hoping the officials who filed this—in direct opposition to a new state law enacting sweeping right-to-farm legislation on land and water—are booted out in the next election. Read the entire story here. Thanks, Dabney! |
Necee Regis
I grew up spending part of every summer in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, which included eating many oysters. After stumbling into an oyster shucking competition in Miami Beach in 2006, I’ve become a fan of the sport and have written about local, national, and international competitions for the Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, American Way Magazine, and the Huffington Post. I've also written oyster-centric stories for Rustik and Modern Farmer. I’ve never met an oyster I didn’t want to eat. Archives
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