Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Oysters



This beautiful green against blue against white happened a while back when Chesapeake Bay Daughter and I ventured out to the county beach even though it was past our bedtime of After Supper o'clock. The sun was behind us and provided great light for any pictures aimed eastward. Just look at how that grass glows.

Speaking not of that at all, let's talk about fried oysters. Or rather, let's start off talking about a noble oyster project, and then let's move right on into the consumption of delicious, delectable, crispy, fried oysters.

Strap on your bibs. Ready? Let's go.

Today's Daily Press talked about a wonderful program (which no doubt has a name, but which I cannot recall) sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation which involves ordinary people growing oysters.

For only $30 you can purchase 1,000 native oyster seeds which you plant in rows, two inches apart, in full sun, and then sprinkle with Miracle Grow.

No, don't do that. That's how you grow 568,422,169.5 red-hot chili peppers which all come ready to pick at the same time and which cause a very distinct and only slightly painful glow to the skin when consumed by the very stressed, now fire-breathing-dragon-like gardener.

Rather, for $30 you can purchase oyster seeds to plant along your dock, as long as you return the oysters for planting on sanctuary reefs the following year.

Why this is important is as follows:

1. Adult oysters filter up to 50 gallons of water a day removing algae and sediment.

2. The Urbanna Oyster Festival is the first weekend in November, and we wouldn't want them to run short on fried oysters.

3. Oyster reefs provide habitats for more than 300 different plants and animals.

4. Oysters should only be consumed in months that contain the letter "r". While this might be a wives tale, the fact is that months containing "r" tend to be colder and nothing good can come of eating an oyster plucked from warm waters unless it's the hot grease of a fry basket. None of this has anything to do with the oyster-growing program, by the way.

Remember, the Urbanna Oyster Festival is the first week in November, which is only two blinks of an eye away, just one wink before Christmas. Not only do I smell fried oysters, but I'm also smelling whiffs of a repeat Blog Fest-like gathering for anyone interested.

Big Hair Envy, Noe Noe Girl and Momx2 are sure to be on board given their proximity to this Celebration of Heavenly Morsels.

Anyone else?

15 comments:

abb said...

Hmmmmm....wonder if the Sea Shanty is available that weekend.....

Pueblo girl said...

Europeans seem to think there's only one way to eat an oyster - RAW! Argghh. Hence I never tried oysters until recently when my MadrileƱo, an independent thinker, served them up cooked. Delicious! So now, your oyster festival sounds fantastic to me, whereas just 12 months ago I'd have been screwing up my face in disgust.

Meg McCormick said...

Oh, it's tempting... surely they have something other than oysters popping out of their fry baskets though? I'm not a fan of eating oysters. I am a fan of oysters in general though.

Ann Marie said...

ME ME ME!!! I am in... my husband does oysters as well as crabbing..

I would LOVE to get to actually hang out with you guys for more than a couple of hours..

Daryl said...

If my driver(s) are willing I am more than willing ...

I wish I had a wharf now ...

mom x 2 said...

yep! I will be there!!! Can't wait!!!

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

Do I need to bring my camper????

Breezeway said...

That would be too much fun! I hated not getting to attend the real Blogfest! And Oyster Festival is the MOST fun!

Mental P Mama said...

The first week of November you say?

big hair envy said...

OK, I'll meet you there again this year, but you have to PROMISE not to go to Olivia's without me this time!!!

The Good Life in Virginia said...

can i join in the reindeer games too ^..^

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Hello - Yes, everyone can join in the festivities, sure, Noe Noe Girl - go ahead and bring your camper and your camping sidekick, and yes, Meg, they have everything except small kitchen appliances coated in flour and deep-fried, so there's something for everyone.

This will give me something to look forward to besides work, death and taxes.....

Anyway, I erroneously said the Ode to Oysters was the first week in November, when I meant to say first WEEKEND in November. Friday and Saturday, whatever those dates are.

For best results, ignore any details or specifics loosely suggested by CBW--at any time on any given topic--and run, do not walk, to the Oyster Festival link in the post for some real information. One of the highlights is the dance at the firehouse on Whatever Evening (Friday?).

There's no down side as far as I can see. I'm already having a fantastic time and I'm only thinking about it.

Annie said...

Loving that photo...not so much the oysters, sorry. My Mum did though. Maybe, as someone said, if they had been cooked or fried perhaps?

Caution/Lisa said...

If one has never before eaten an oyster, would it really be avisable for one to drive 12 hours after partaking for the first time?

foolery said...

Sounds like great fun! Wait, the first weekend in November? That's the same weekend as my Jolly Rancher Festival, celebrating the harvest of Jolly Ranchers. They have a veritable cornucopia of fruit flavors, you know.

BUMMER.

I'm certain all y'all will have a grand time for me, and I'll raise an Apple Stick in your honor.

What? No, I haven't been drinking.