^^Recent dinner at Public Fish and Oyster
While I have seafood on the brain this week ( 😉 ), let’s talk about oysters! Thomas and I ate all the oysters this past summer. Whenever we saw them on a menu, we got them. We had the chance to eat at Merroir, Rappahannock Oyster Company’s tasting room on The Chesapeake Bay in July.
I have always loved fried and broiled oysters, but I never really got the point of eating them raw. It’s the same reason I don’t like taking shots – why would you want to down your alcohol in one gulp when you could sip and savor a glass of wine for half an hour? I just didn’t get why anyone would want to swallow something whole without tasting it. There’s also added risk to eating them raw, so I didn’t want to chance it if I didn’t have any pleasure to gain. (Although a little research concluded that the risk is highest when eating raw oysters from the Gulf in the hot summer.)
But, because I love mussels and clams, I gave raw oysters a try this summer, and I realized how delicious they are if you actually chew and savor them. I know that it sounds gross, but that’s what won me over. Now I love to compare different kinds and debate which is brinier or butterier.
But beyond their complex flavor, oysters are so good for you! They’re rich in vitamins C and B12, but they’re best known for their zinc content along with selenium and iron.
I’ve found that people have strong opinions about how they like their oysters – raw or cooked, hot sauce or no, lemon or pure. I like mine with a little of everything. But no shallots!
So tell me: do you like raw oysters? What are your favorite kinds?
Kelsey @ So Much Life says
Well, now I’m feeling inspired to re-try raw oysters….I was like you: I always thought it’s kind of gross just to swallow a slimy oyster, and I can’t ever really taste it! I’m a big fan of fried oysters, though!
KathEats says
Give ’em a try!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
I never got why people liked oysters! Here in Hong Kong, everyone is CRAZY about oysters, especially raw ones. Cooked ones, raw ones… I don’t like them, haha!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Sue mills says
I love oysters but only west coast they are smoother and less salty. A lot of lemon and just horseradish and they are wonderful. And I never slurp them eat them with a proper cocktail fork!
Tina says
I’m a bit like you and more a fan of baked or grilled oysters. But after trying them fresh (straight out of the sea) with a bit of lemon i’m not going back to the baked version as long Im sure to get them fresh
Doro says
I can’t get over the texture of oysters. I think that the taste would be okay (I’m generally not a big seafood fan), but the texture makes me gag. Guess, I’m a bit sensitive there…
Sam @ Hygge Wellness says
I’ve actually never, ever tried one! I think it’s a textural thing ; )
Kelli H says
I’ve tried oysters every way and haven’t found a way I like them. 🙁
Anne Weber-Falk says
No raw seafoods EVER! GAH!
KathEats says
Haha!! Not even sushi?!
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
I clearly remember that my mom took me to a SUPER nice restaurant for my 17th birthday and demanded I try oysters or I had to pay for it. Scarred for life! Plus, let’s be honest AZ isn’t exactly the place you want to be eating oysters at ha ha
KathEats says
Haha!! Prickly pear however…
Katrine says
I love oysters! When my husband and I first started dating, we discovered them together and have never looked back. I’m partial to Wellfleet oysters, raw, with just a little lemon. The best!
KathEats says
I don’t think I’ve tried those!
Anne Weber-Falk says
Wellfleet is known for their oysters!
KathEats says
I will keep my eye out!
Emily says
I love raw oysters with mignonette and a bit of tabasco, but will totally eat fried oysyers with aioli or oysters rockefeller. YUM!
Paulette says
Raw but only from the Gulf of Mexico and only in months that contain an R. Add some homemade cocktail sauce with lots of horseradish and lemon and I am in heaven. I do also love them fried or grilled but not in oyster stew.
Kristen says
I’ve never had raw oysters (or oyshters as we call them in Baltimore ha), which is kind of a shame since I grew up around them and they are on menus everywhere around here. I’ve even been to parties where they’ve had shuck your own raw oyster bars- why didn’t I ever partake?!! They are on my bucket list of foods to try, but I will have to wait another year or so until I’m no longer pregnant!
Lindsay says
Love them raw! But I chew and savor as well. The rule here near the gulf is to only eat them in months with an “r”. So basically you don’t eat them May-August. 🙂
KathEats says
I think the rules are a bit different in Virginia. When I was researching around for this post it said the highest chance of getting Vibrio vulnificus bacteria is in the Gulf, in the summer. So I bet this was created to reduce that chance.
Lindsay says
I’m sure. I don’t really follow the rule anyway. I pretty much eat them any time haha.
Annie says
My family loves oysters! My dad and step mom have taught me the best way to eat them, order a shot of good vodka with them, add a little to each oyster along with your other toppings and eat them right up! I like them with horseradish too! But I cannot chew them!
KathEats says
Vodka, huh?! : )
lynn says
Not a raw oyster fan. Fry em up for me!
Pat says
I have tried raw oysters, but not for a long time. My preference at the moment – not that I get them often – is grilled in the shell. They are still nearly raw, but warm. Add a little lemon or hot sauce – yum.
Robin says
I’m not a picky person at all but those are just one of those things that make me go ewwwwww
Anna says
My grandfather used to take a tall glass and layer saltines, raw oysters, and cocktail sauce until the glass was full. Then he would douse the top with lemon juice. Taking a special extra long fork, he would then mash it around a bit before eating the entire glass full. One of my favorite memories of him. We also make Oyster Stew every year for Christmas. Quite the treat for us Midwesterners.
KathEats says
what an interesting “recipe” – I bet it was actually really good!! “Salad in a jar” before it was cool : )
Andrea on Vacation says
I like them a lot! $1 oyster happy hours and festivals are my fav. Just add a little cocktail sauce and tabasco. The smaller, saltier varieties tend to be my favorite.
Lindsey says
“why would you want to down your alcohol in one gulp when you could sip and savor a glass of wine for half an hour?”
Why? WHYYY would anyone do that? I can’t possibly imagine 😉 😉
KathEats says
Ha!!
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) says
Okay, I am soooo confused. People actually gulp their raw oysters without chewing them!!?? I did not know this. I absolutely LOVE raw oysters, but I’ve only ever seen people chew them. When in New Orleans, we ate oysters with quite a few locals, and most people would put some seafood sauce on a saltine cracker, put the raw oyster on that, and then eat it up. Everyone chewed them, as they are typically eaten on saltines in NOLA. I had never heard (until now) that people swallow them whole. That cannot be good for the digestive system, haha!