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Oysters
What Would You Serve?
Entertaining is one of my favorite activities of all time, but as with all hobbies, it requires lots of thinking ahead and decision-making, from planning a prep schedule to coordinating the menu. In this series, I'll present a dish and ask you to share what you'd serve alongside it.
Here's the scenario: I've heard from PartySugar about how picturesque it is to picnic at the Hog Island Oyster Company Farm, so this weekend I'll be scoping it out for myself.
Come Party With Me: Father's Day — Menu
Father's Day is this Sunday and naturally I'm planning a manly meal that celebrates my dad. He enjoys simple classic American cuisine, so this menu features his backyard favorites. We'll start with oysters on the half shell with a shrimp-butter-Parmesan topping.
Honoring the Half Shell at San Francisco's Oyster Fest
Over the weekend, I found myself at San Francisco's Oyster Fest an annual event that brings partygoers together with Guinness, live music from Michael Franti and Spearhead, and, of course, oysters in every shape and form. The event took place on a sunny Saturday at a park overlooking the bay, with Drakes Bay Family Farms educating festivalgoers about oyster farming, oyster-shucking demonstrations and a suck-and-shuck contest.
Have you ever been to an oyster festival?
Definition: Mignonette
Mignonette
A classic condiment for raw oysters served on the half shell, mignonette sauce typically contains vinegar and shallots, and may also include oyster liquor, seasonings, and herbs.
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Name That Dish!
Those of you who prefer cooked oysters to raw ones might be fans of this classic oyster dish. Do you know what it's called?
Would You Rather Eat Raw or Cooked Oysters?
A couple of weeks ago when I was browsing Hog Island's Oyster Cookbook, I came across an interesting and truthful quote by food legend M.F.K. Fisher, "There are three kinds of oyster-eaters: those loose-minded sports who will eat anything, hot, cold, thin, thick, dead, or alive, as long as it is oyster; those who will only eat them raw and only raw; those who with equal severity eat them cooked and no other way." While I love oysters in any way, shape, or form, my mother only enjoys cooked oysters.
Come Party With Me: My Half Birthday — Menu
Although some people may find it crazy, I celebrate my half birthday every year — hey, they don't call me PartySugar for nothing! Since a half birthday party should never be more elaborate than your real birthday, I'm hosting an intimate oyster picnic. A group of my closest friends will join me for an afternoon at the Hog Island Oyster Company Farm.
How to Store Raw Oysters
Although raw oysters are best consumed as fresh as possible, sometimes it's necessary to store them for a couple of hours or even overnight. My dad purchased 50 oysters on Friday for a small party Saturday. Since they were on the menu raw, we had to keep them cold for about a day.
A Valentine's Menu That Won't Break the Scale
Recently I received a personal message from a reader asking for advice on what to cook her boyfriend for Valentine's Day. They've been working out together and eating healthy, so she was looking for a menu that wouldn't ruin their diet. Here, I've come up with a decadent dinner menu that won't pack on pounds.
Come Party With Me: Valentine's Dinner For Two — Menu
This Valentine's Day, serve your sweetheart a special dinner that features savory aphrodisiacs. Select a seductive menu that is filling, delicious, and romantic. Entice them with a French onion crostini starter.
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