2009 Oyster Season part 2
Hi again!! did you miss me?! Did you run out last night in search of a plate of oysters?! hope so!
Well, as promised, I am continuing my post about oysters..
And one of the very best oysters in the world, in my opinion, is the Kumamoto.
It is a tiny oyster, and almost round.
It is now, like most oysters, farm- raised in the Pacific Northwest or in Europe- but it originated from Kyushu island in Japan.
Hog Island Oyster Company- In Tomales Bay- is where we used to get ours when I was a Chef in SF- and if you are over there, I really recommend a trip there! It’s amazing! Fun! and you can eat as many oysters as you want!
the Kumamoto’s flavour is creamy- almost buttery- and has no harshness or aggression whatsoever to it. By the way, they go perfectly with sevruga, osetra,
or of course, if you have plenty of spare money lying around- Beluga- caviar.
And speaking of caviar, spare money lying around, and other APHRODISIACS- let’s briefly discuss the legend that oysters will give you a Tiger in the Tank in the bedroom!
it’s no secret they look and taste sexy…
but, well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but research pretty much disproves that eating them will turn you into a Sex-God.. sorry..
Although in the case of the mythologically fantastic lover Cassanova, he was famous also for eating 50 oysters for breakfast every morning, so who knows!!!!
I don’t know why talking about sex reminds me of this place, but-
Next time you are in my home town of San Francisco, make sure that you go to my all-time favourite restaurant there :
Zuni:
1658 Market St San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 552-2522
Get at least 36 of them! And order a sapphire martini to with them! Trust me! I used to do it all the time!Sadly, it’s almost impossible to get Kumamotos outside of Japan or the States, so I have taken up eating Belons, or Fines de Claires- also absolutely top grade oysters, and carefully and proudly grown and harvested in Brittany and Marennes by people who have generations of history as oyster producers-Beautiful Breton
And when I’m in France- I have been known to devour them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
here are two places which you MUST go to- if in Paris:
Le Bar à Huitres Saint Germain | 33, rue Saint-Jacques | PARIS 5e | Tél. 01 44 07 27 37
le Bar a’ Huitres, Paris
I was sitting in Paris for 2 days waiting for Alon to join me after a meeting in Zurich, and every night I sat there (by myself) and ate 36 Fines de Claires and drank a whole bottle of Sancerre!
they treated me like a God! You will love it!
And in the unfortunate event that you are ever in Nice:
(sorry, but it reminded me of Netanya! Not that there’s anything wrong with Netanya, mind you- but when in France, I like to feel like I’m in France!!)
We were there filming “Duet” with Chef Christian Plumail of the Michelin- starred “L’Universe”!
Oh La La!
Olvera and Plumail at L’Universe
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=142785493139&ref=mf
Alon and I were lucky to find this place!
We ate perfect oysters and oursin every day there after I finished shooting!
while the rest of the crew was sitting in some tourist trap, eating 25-euro pizza!
Why?! because they do not eat oysters!! Ha!
Now- I gess you guys think I will be giving some sort of recipes, blah blah blah.
Sorry- as well as my hatred for recipes, I truly believe nothing more than a squeeze of lemon belongs on a fresh Oyster..
Oh- and maybe a spoonful of Tobiko caviar! (NOT the tiny, yucky,”mintay” used for making ikra that is sometimes passed off as Tobiko by unscrupulous sushi bars here!)
Tobiko is Flying- Fish caviar, crunchy, delicate, and excellent!
You can order it from Moshe! It’s damn cheap, too! it comes in Wasabi flavour as well! Yum!
Other than that- great company, and a great bottle of wine (or two!) are the only things you need to have a truly memorable Oyster feast!
Enjoy!!
Facebook comments:
Hey Rima!
What a great appetizing post!
I love love love oysters!
and just yesterday I was talking with someone that’s working with me about one of the markets here when they open fresh,excellent oysters for you for 1$!
We just said that we must go someday and eat dozen each.
That made me want to go and eat some oysters with you!
Miss you!!!
xx
Rima,
Next time you’re in Paris, forget the Bar à Huitres and go to Huitres Regis, at the Mabillon Metro station. Worlds better.