Nothing Better Than Freshly Shucked Oysters!
I love fresh oysters! The look, the briny freshness of the ocean, and of course, the icy cold sensation as they slide down your throat…and they are incredibly good for you as well!
So why am I sharing this with you? Because I just read a terrific book that looks at oysters in a very unique way!
Sex, Death and Oysters: A Half-Shell Lover’s World Tour by Robb Walsh – Published in 2009
I discovered this book several years ago, and it’s a great history AND mystery story about the beloved bivalve!
Here is the premise of “Sex, Death & Oysters!”
When award-winning Texas food writer Robb Walsh discovers that the local Galveston Bay oysters are being passed off as Blue Points and Chincoteagues in other parts of the country, he decides to look into the matter.
Thus begins a five-year journey into the culture of one of the world’s oldest delicacies. Walsh’s through-the-looking-glass adventure takes him from oyster reefs to oyster bars and from corporate boardrooms to hotel bedrooms in a quest for the truth about the world’s most profitable aphrodisiac.
On the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Gulf coasts of the U.S., as well as the Canadian Maritimes, Ireland, England, and France, the author ingests thousands of oysters—raw, roasted, barbecued, and baked—all for the sake of making a fair comparison. He also considers the merits of a wide variety of accompanying libations, including tart white wines in Paris, Guinness in Galway, martinis in London, microbrews in the Pacific Northwest, and tequila in Texas.
“Sex, Death and Oysters” is a record of a gastronomic adventure with illustrations and recipes—a fascinating collection of the most exciting, instructive, poignant, and just plain weird experiences on a trip into the world of the most beloved and feared of all seafoods.
Here is the Amazon Best of the Month, January 2009 Review:
Once called “the Indiana Jones of food writers,” Texan Robb Walsh has developed a cult of devoted readers who have ridden shotgun with him on his obsessive culinary adventures–from the quest for the perfect cup of coffee, to barbecue battles, to Dr. Pepper bootleggers.
Who better then to take a five-year quest in search of the perfect oyster, “the world’s most profitable aphrodisiac,” than the James Beard Award-winning author, who hangs his hat as the restaurant critic for The Houston Press and has written several books, including Are You Really Going to Eat That? and The Tex-Mex Cookbook. Sex, Death, and Oysters: A Half-Shell Lover’s World Tour chronicles a global culinary road trip that takes Walsh from his local Galveston Bay to the coasts of North America, and off to Ireland, England, and France.
Fact-filled and laced throughout with his wry humor, Walsh recounts the hundreds of oysters shucked and prepared in myriad ways, and offers a fascinating history that goes beyond the expected, revealing coastal rivalries, recipes, shucking tips, and what to drink with your oyster.
It’s everything you need to know to enjoy one of these!
I love books about food – whether cookbooks filled with great stories, or great books that have recipes included…and I also like to find out more about our food, where it comes from and how it is sold to us – and so does Food Author Michael Ruhlman:
Ruhlman’s “Grocery” book is essential reading for food lovers – you may never look at your local supermarket the same way again!
See my review here:
Let me know if you love Oyster Stew, fried Oysters, or raw right out of the shell!
Categories: Books / Media, cookbooks, Exotic Travel, Food, food blog, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Recipes, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir, Uncategorized, Wacky Food
johnrieber 
Fresh with a beautiful spoonful of a Thai chilli sauce made by my daughter in law which I always have with my Oysters
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That sounds perfect!
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I do like oysters, preferably fresh, with a squeeze of lemon. (Though I once had a baked oyster pie, near Marseille). They are notoriously expensive here, but the best I ever had was in the French seaport of Honfleur, in Normandy. We went to a restaurant for lunch, and shared a special platter called ‘L’Ocean’. The oysters served on that were just delicious.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for sharing, Pete!
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