In the past, conventional wisdom maintained one should only eat oysters in months ending with “r”, but refrigeration and other factors have made these luscious mollusks viable year-round. On a recent trip to Venice, the Adriatic, and Greece with Viking, I had the opportunity to sample some world-class oysters in Croatia, off the coast of a town named Ston, a little less than an hour’s drive from Dubrovnik.
These beauties had just the right amount of brininess—rather than a saline punch in the face—and a delicious flavor and texture. We took a small boat out to a dock and our bivalves were (literally) pulled up from the water and shucked on the spot, served with nothing more than bread and a slice of lemon—oh, and some delicious local white wine. They were followed by (also freshly-pulled-from-the-water) mussels, another local specialty. If you ever have the opportunity to be in the area, definitely put this on your list.
Otherwise, oysters are plentiful this time of year. Even if you live somewhere landlocked without a good fishmonger nearby, you can get them shipped overnight. To fully enjoy them, it’s good to have the right equipment on hand, and the investment will insure that oysters will always be on the menu.
Consider the Oyster
Shucker’s Bundle
This expert set has two different knives (one for thinner, one for thicker oysters) and a cut-proof cloth give you everything you need.
A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Oyster Eating in North America by Rowan Jacobsen
The Oyster Book: A Chronicle of the World’s Most Fascinating Shellfish―Past, Present, and Future by Dan Martino
Two books that are essential reading for oyster lovers. Jocobsen love to do a deep dive into a single topic (his book on truffles is magnificent) and you’ll learn an incredible amount. If you want even more information, check out his The Essential Oyster. Martino’s book is a sort of history of man’s relationship to the oyster—including farming, the effects of climate change, and more—and it’s completely fascinating.
New and vintage oyster plates / Hunt and Bloom
Offering their own, new plates beside a collection of vintage oyster plates means there’s a lot of potential for your table. Happy exploring!
2-Tier Stainless Steel Seafood Tower / Crate and Barrel
For a really spectacular presentation, fill the two trays with crushed ice and top with a selection of fresh oysters, shrimp—maybe some sea urchin?
Cast Iron Oyster Grill Pan / Outset
If fresh, raw oysters are king, the grilled ones are at least princes. Top with herbs and butter and put over coals. In minutes, you’ll have a real treat.
Oyster Fork Set / Sticky Bottom Oyster Company
Most oyster forks are just, well, small forks. These have nice wide heads and tines so they grip firmly and avoid fallen oysters. They even come in their own case.
Regency Lemon Wraps / The Peppermill
Sure, getting a lemon seed on your oyster isn’t the biggest tragedy, but these wraps are great looking and make your table seem that much more stylish.
Try these oyster recipes with the oyster tableware:
- Grilled Oysters with Roasted Green Chile
- Roasted Oysters with Cornbread, Leek and Banana Pepper Crumble
- Oyster Shooter
Story by Stephen Treffinger
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