Oysters

I love oysters. Jonathan Swift tells us that it was a bold man that first ate an oyster; I couldn't agree more, and I'm glad that man ate that oyster.

Oysters are exotic and humble at the same time. They're plentiful here in Southern Maryland, you don't even really have to go out to get them. If you know a waterman,(and who around here doesn't), you've got oysters. Take them home and just sit on the back porch shucking and slurping those beauties off the shell. Add beer and you have a feast. Take those same oysters and set them on a pretty silver platter filled with crushed ice; voila!; you are all of a sudden one of the classiest people around.

I prefer my oysters raw, never with cocktail sauce, maybe a little Tabasco or a little red wine vinegar. And definitely champagne.( I am on a huge champagne kick right now, I feel a champers post is in the works). I will eat them fried, but they have to be fried just right. Oysters Bienville and oysters Rockefeller, yes and yes. I will try to bake oysters with anything, I'm creative like that. I make a mean oyster stuffing.

If you've never eaten an oyster, you have not lived. You should try it, you might love it