oysters

June Oyster of the Month

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Heads up Shucker!

These choice oysters arrive in their natural state with mud from the waters and could use a quick rinse if you prefer to serve clean shells. We do not rinse these in advance because it encourages them to open.

In the heat of the summer our beloved Canadian oysters begin to loose their briny taste and plump texture. For this upcoming Independence Day we went All-American with salty oysters from Maine. You will most likely want to use the mignonette with each of these oysters and maybe throw a few on the grill this July 4th! We suggest topping with a bbq butter; just mix softened butter with your favorite bbq sauce, top onto your shucked oyster and grill for 7-8 minutes on low heat. Don’t forget some good crusty bread for the all the delicious butter sauce!

SALTY MAINER OYSTERS

Salty Mainer oysters are a medium oyster, cup full of meat, and a very bright brine. This strong brine will take you straight to the ocean. You will see that the shells are different in sizes and take more care in opening because they are wild grown in sand and mud.

  • Specie: Crassostrea virginica

  • Origin: Damariscotta River, Maine

  • Water Temperature: average 53°

  • Tides: Damariscotta River; tidal river with large 10-foot tides

  • Wild: 4 years

  • Average Size: 3-3.5 inches

  • Available: April-December

FLAVOR PROFILE

Salty, buttery cream with a more clean, sweet finish.

Suggested Pairing: Ginger Beer, Moscow Mules or Cider

BRINE INTENSITY

Medium High

GROWOUT METHOD

Grown in floating cages until they reach about 2” and then bottom planted for the final grow-out giving them their hard, deep-cupped, easy to open, beautiful shell.

GROWER

Atlantic Aqua Farms provide product that has been raised, harvested and processed in an environmentally sustainable manner.

How to shuck an oyster? <—Click to watch this video!

May Oyster of the Month

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Hi Shucker!

Oysters are arriving just in time for the Memorial Day holiday! For the month of May we are sampling the most northern oyster available from the east coast of Canada, Merasheen Bay from Newfoundland.

MERASHEEN BAY OYSTERS

Merasheen Bay oysters are a boutique cocktail oyster, cup full of meat, a burst of lingering salinity on the front with a mélange of seawood notes and slight minerality. Expect a long-lasting fresh ocean finish. They are noted for their strong shell, easy to find hinge and always clean ~ inside and out.

  • Specie: Crassostrea virginica

  • Origin: Rustico, Newfoundland, Canada

    • Nestled into a cold pristine bay on Merasheen Island, the Merasheen Bay oyster was born. It’s because of the frigid waters, Merasheen oysters take a bit more time to grow than a typical oyster lifecycle but the rewards are well worth the wait.

  • Water Temperature: 2°-20°

  • Tides: 6-8 feet high; currents come from Labrador Sea and the Arctic

  • Farmed: 4 to 5 years

  • Average Size: 2.5-3 inches

  • Available: Year-round

FLAVOR PROFILE

Seaweed, salt and the crisp, clean sea.

Suggested Pairing: Sparkling Rose or Pilsner

BRINE INTENSITY

Medium

GROWOUT METHOD

The specific method is not disclosed. The Merasheen Bay oysters grow inside the rolling rocky banks of Merasheen Island. Seawalls of kelp and seaweed covered rocks in the bay with a history of fishing for cod and crab in the area.

GROWER

Owner/Operator, Juan Roberts, Iceberg Select Company

How to shuck an oyster? <—Click to watch this video!

Source: https://merasheenbayoysters.com/oysters/

Are oysters really aphrodisiacs?

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Short and sweet, YES!

Although, the Smithsonian Magazine doesn’t quite agree as to desire being measurable.

I like this compilation of the definition by wikipedia.org.

“An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. Substances range from a variety of plants, spices, foods, and synthetic chemicals. Therefore, they can be classified by their chemical properties (i.e., substances that are natural and unnatural). Natural aphrodisiacs like alcohol are further classified into plant-based and non-plant-based substances.”

The amount of Zinc found in oysters help men produce healthy sperm. So if you are wanting to multiple your love this Valentine’s Day, I suggest indulging in some oysters with your lover. Zinc does SO much more for you; read more in a previous post on Zinc and Copper found in oysters.

Oysters also contain a couple of very important hormones. One of my favorites: dopamine! No wonder we feel so good and happy after eating a dozen fresh oysters. More please! The other hormone is an amino acid called D-aspartic which is said to increase sex hormones, specifically testosterone in men.

In summary, if you need a boost of happiness or to smooth over a quarrel with your partner, find your closest oyster bar or give us a call! We would love to shuck oysters for you outside your home!

Wishing you all the love and most importantly let’s share the love. Let’s share love America, not amplify the negative or wrong-doings of others. Let’s forgive, yet remember, and let’s love, yet grow better…together? Yes, together.

Happy Valentine’s Day from your bi-valve friends at Aphrodite Oysters!

XoXoXo

Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, GlobalSeafoods.com, Houston Chronicle, Aphrodite Oyster shuckers and more