Oystermania

I really love it when you write back to me. I wasn't the most popular kid in school (think rebellious geeky weirdo) so maybe I am needy, but on Friday afternoons I feel like I have a whole bunch of good friends when I check my inbox after the email goes out. I learn who hasn't been feeling well and who has moved away. I learned that Evelyn is enjoying smoking steelhead on her new green egg and I drooled over Ellen's photo of her gorgeous branzino meal. (Maybe that drooling explains a few things.)

My friend, Tim, sent me this very cool link to share with you:  Nutrient Dense Foods This article examines foods that are high in nutrients and low in calories. The top of the list is all green stuff - parsley, swiss chard, kale, watercress, spinach, mustard greens and lettuce. Yawn. Healthy food but not exactly exciting foods to eat. But wait. Number 8 on the list after all the green stuff is OYSTERS! Yes! Who would have thought that the next nutrient dense food after all the boring greens on the list is one of the most exciting foods in the world! You've got to admit that oysters are exciting. Whether you love them or hate them - nothing is more heart palpitating than swallowing a mouthful of oceany slime. Think about it. How many other foods do you eat while they are still alive? (Right now half my reading audience is cheering and the other half is gagging. And, you guessed it, I am drooling.) We get a lot of questions about these tasty mollusks - here are the most common ones. What's the difference between farmed and wild oysters? The difference between farmed and wild is that farmed oysters live in a more controlled environment. For the most part, they are raised in ocean waters with some monitoring and control over the temperature and salinity of the water which induces spawning and fertilization. Don't all oysters taste alike? Nope. Oysters have unique merroir (like terroir in wine). The more brackish the water, the more salty the oyster. Algae and minerals are filtered through oysters and the type and amount of them found in the water can affect the oyster's flavor as well as the amount of seaweed in the surrounding area. What's the deal about not eating oysters in months with an "r" in the name? This rule comes from a period when refrigeration was not as prevalent. Today it is fine to eat oysters in the summer. The danger might be that summertime is when red tides and algae blooms cause closure of those harvest areas. Warmer water is also associated with higher incidences of Vibrio bacteria. Commercial oyster harvesting is strictly regulated, but oysters harvested from the East Coast (Chesapeake Bay and farther north) are safer because of cooler water temperatures in those areas. Will eating oysters cause me to drool and be unpopular? Absolutely not. Eating oysters makes you cool. How do you feel about oysters at a tailgate party? I am pretty sure there is no better food for tailgating than oysters on the half shell. A cold crisp mouthful of oceany goodness chased by a cold crisp beer or white wine is many people's idea of perfection. Just remember to properly care for them. They should be stored at 38 - 43 degrees and make sure they have adequate drainage. Oysters die in fresh water so make sure they are not sitting in a puddle in the cooler. The Super Bowl is coming up and I suppose there are quite a few of you attending since it is right here in the area. Will you be tailgating? Will you be oyster eating? Let us know your plans because oyster shucking is going to be in demand! We have lots of shucking experience but advance notice will help us get them to you quickly. We don't want to be responsible for you missing the kickoff! This Weekend's Specials James River oysters - $.75 each Black Bass from Pamlico Sound and Wilmington, NC $24.99/lb for fillets and $10.99/lb for whole fish Striped Bass from Virginia and Maryland - $12.99 for 6 oz. portions Trigger from Georgia and North Carolina arriving Saturday for $24.99/lb B-liner snapper from Georgia and North Carolina arriving Saturday for $26.99/lb for fillets and $11.99/lb for whole fish The trigger and the b-liner snappers were caught Thursday, arrive in Atlanta late Friday and to our stores Saturday morning. How fresh can you get? Catch to Go Through Sunday it is a crispy and savory fish! Our Parmesan Crusted Mahi with Jasmine Rice, Garlic Asparagus and Tangy Yogurt Sauce. (Drooling everywhere) Starting on Monday it will be Chimichurri Hake with Green Beans and Garlic Roasted Potatoes And Finally I love the start of the new year. It is time for rethinking the old ways, reorganizing, making promises and plans. If you are not in a great place at the start of this year, try to have some faith and trust that whatever isn't great right now can lead you to something that is. So get ready for it. Be on guard. Awesomeness lies ahead. Blessings, Kathleen