Putting Together an Oyster Party

by Ilene Polansky

The Famous Maestro S.V.P.
Oyster Shooter

This drink has become very popular in at the Maestro S.V.P.restaurant and especially at the events we do throughout the summer months. Take an oyster, put it in a shot glass, add a little cocktail sauce, fresh horseradish and jalapeño vodka. You then drink it like a shooter. It is a very refreshing treat.

Oysters Rockefeller

Serving Oysters

The best and easiest oyster to open is a choice Malpeque or Caraquet. It is always uniform in size, round and plump. This makes it a lot easier for a beginner. I suggest 1-1/2 dozens per person. Have lots of lemons cut in quarters. Or, for events or parties, take a whole lemon, roll it on a table to loosen the juice and poke a hole on the top part. This makes a lemon squeezer. You should have plenty of Tabasco sauce or any hot sauce. A simple but delicious classic sauce is made by cutting shallots into very small pieces and adding red wine vinegar and a little lemon juice.

To add a little spice to your party, you may want to consider serving cooked oysters. Have a buffet spread with different ingredients so your friends can make their own cooked oysters. Here are some suggestions for different toppings:

Oyster Cookbook

Goat cheese, tomato pesto, basil pesto, cheddar cheese, orange chipotle sauce, salmon caviar, a bottle of black sambuca, a bottle of porto, asiago cheese or even a fruit salsa. Just toss the ingredients on the oysters and put them on a tray and into an oven at 350 degrees. They should take about five minutes to cook.

How to Shuck an Oyster

There is a point or a hinge at the opposite end of the cup. Take a good sharp oyster knife and insert it in the point. Apply a little pressure and pop it open. Then cut the bottle mussel. If this method does not work you can microwave them on high for about 20 seconds, plunge them in cold water and then pry open with your knife.

How Long Will Oysters Last?

We keep oysters in the restaurant for a maximum of one week. If the oysters are not immediately fresh, then only 2 or 3 days may be their storage life. You can tell when an oyster is going bad. Always make sure the shells are tightly closed. If they have opened the oyster will loose its fluid. You will know when you have a bad oyster as the smell is very offensive. Cover your oysters with a damp cloth and let the oysters breath. They need an well-ventilated place in your fridge.