It was Jonathan Swift who wrote, “It was a bold man who first ate an oyster.” If that’s true, then I reckon I am a pretty bold man, because I love to eat oysters whether raw, fried, broiled, steamed- whatever. I love oysters.
Eating oysters is not hard, but finding them can be quite difficult. There are basically two ways of obtaining oysters. One is to go get them yourself. This will be a lot of hard work, I promise you. Just locating a good oyster reef can be a lot of trouble. The other, and for most of us, the more logical way of obtaining a sack of oysters for a great meal is to buy them, but even buying fresh oysters can be a chore.
Oysters require special living conditions, and there are always harvesting seasons, quotas, and other limitations which make commercial harvesting of wild oysters something of a difficult situation.
However, a local company has started another way for oyster eaters to find their favorite meal. Admiral Shellfish Company of Gulf Shores, Alabama plants, grows and harvests some first-rate oysters, and they offer us some great advice.
And for those who want to actually experience how an oyster goes from farm to table, tours can be arranged by contacting Admiral Shellfish Company online- it’s a fun tour.
Where are Our Local Oysters From?
Anthony Ricciardone of Admiral Shellfish tells us, “Alabama, especially on the Gulf Coast, there are farm raised oysters available nearly year round. And wild oysters when they are harvesting. A lot of the wild oysters come from Louisiana, Texas, and here locally especially in the fall when the reefs are open for harvest.”
Since wild-harvested oysters are a very seasonal thing, farm-raised oysters can provide good shellfish at nearly any time of the year. Ricciardone says, “ The farms plant seed year round, and keep menus and retail locations stocked throughout the year.”
What are Key Factors Which Affect Oyster Taste?
One of the first things that oyster lovers find out is that not all oyster taste the same. While most oysters, regardless of their raisings, are pretty good to eat, some oysters just taste better. It makes a lot of difference where an oyster grows and how it lives its life as to how good it tastes when served.
Ricciardone says, “The main thing that grabs someone eating an oyster is the salinity. Most people will notice if it is salty or not first. For reference, a few miles out into the Gulf it is 30+ ( parts per million salinity), and the Bays can average 10-15. Our salinity is right in the sweet spot at Admiral. We average over 20+ throughout the year because we are located right exactly where the Bay meets the Gulf. People start thinking it’s salty around 20, and very salty closer to 30.”
And it’s not just the salt taste that makes an oyster special. A wide range of factors go into the specific location’s oysters and their taste when served. Ricciardone tells us, “Besides salt, it gets just as complex as wine. Wine makers call it “terroir” (local flavors from the land), where the soil, weather, handling of that area all make a super unique wine grape even a few miles from another grower. We are the exact same. We call it “merroir” (local flavors from the sea). There are some great farms all in the same area, making a unique product. We handle our oysters heavily, giving a deep cup, have a clean sandy bottom for a clean/fresh tasting meat, and have massive currents bringing lots of plankton (food) throughout the year leading to a really unique and sought after oyster.”
Where are Good Places to Buy Oysters Locally?
So it seems that here in the Mobile Bay area we have some world-class oysters being produced, but the big problem is where to find these oysters for sale. Just because a retail market offers oysters, they may not be from the Mobile Bay area- many are shipped in from far out of state.
When asked where to find Mobile Bay oysters locally, Ricciardone says, “Any seafood market in Mobile or Baldwin County, even some that don’t advertise to the public. Give them a call since oysters are harvested fresh- that’s the key advice I share. It’s not like some shrimp boil mix that can stay on the shelf, we often harvest these specifically for orders that were placed at retail.”
Can the Public Buy Oysters Right off the Farm?
It would seem that since we have a great source of locally grown and harvested oysters close at hand, then it would be an easy thing to just run down to Fort Morgan Road and stop by Admirals and pick up a sack of oysters.
Of course, things are never as easy as they should be, and direct from the farm to the consumer sales are not possible. There are state and federal restrictions on this kind of direct sales
Ricciardone says, “Not at this time, every oyster we harvest is tagged and gotten to a processor for chilling, cleaning, and boxing. From there, distributors and the public can purchase them. It seems super strict, but we want customers to know we have a lot of oversight and rules to keep the public safe. Raw seafood is always going to carry a risk of foodborne illness, so being as careful as we can to harvest quickly and chill them makes Alabama oysters as safe or safer than literally anywhere in the country.”
What are Some Local Restaurants Known for Serving Good Oysters?
Although I don’t mind shucking out a bunch of oysters myself, I will admit that it’s a lot of work, and with the sharp oyster shells self- shucking oysters is a constant threat to bare hands, it is just a lot easier to order up a batch of oysters at a restaurant.
We asked Ricciardone what local eateries serve Admirals oysters. He says, “Admirals are currently available at Bon Secour Fisheries, Crimson Bay Seafood, and a ton of local restaurants like Voyagers, Jesses, Red and White, Villaggio, Mile Marker 158, Zeke’s, and more. It can vary week to week, and like buying fresh oysters for home use, the best thing you can do is ask for us by name!”
What are Some Good Tips for Storing and Preparing Oysters at Home?
Finally we asked Ricciardone about caring for oysters which are bought at a market and brought home for preparation and consumption there. Like all fresh seafood, oysters have a limited shelf-life, and need proper care to be at its best when served. Ricciardone advises the following about caring for fresh oysters at home.
“I like to say treat it like tuna…DRY and COOL. The worst thing that can happen is them sitting in melted water at the bottom of a cooler. I like to have bags still holding the ice at the bottom of a cooler with the drain out, and a box or sack of oysters on top to keep them dry and cool. Some cubes melting over them can provide an extra chill, but the water will drain off and away before affecting the oyster. Also…pop them in the fridge! in a bowl or tray- that works just fine,” advises Ricciardone.
And the best advice we can offer for a home consumer of oysters- Serve them up fast! Fresh Alabama-grown oysters are so good, there is no sense in letting them sit and wait. Pop then open and serve them up!
Important Contact Information:
Admiral Shellfish Company
1237 Hwy 180
Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542
sales@admiralsshellfishcompany.com
