Written By Jeannette Montgomery Edibles / How to Cook / Okanagan May 21, 2014 Cooking With Oysters: Easy Tips from a Chef SHARE VIA: Facebook Twitter PinterestA festival celebrating oysters might be unusual for a town in the middle of a semi-desert, but this spring saw the crustacean front and centre in the 3rd Annual Osoyoos Oyster Festival.Oysters can be a gamble for reluctant palates and preparing them well is a mystery for us non-chefs. What can eager home cooks do to mitigate their oyster risks? The April 22 communal table at Miradoro Restaurant offered an ideal opportunity to slurp and sip into research mode – and the kitchen team, led by sous chef Orlin Godfrey, was happy to share a few tips.choose wisely“Oysters need less than a one-day trip”, says Godfrey. “And they should be fully closed.” If you don’t live close to the ocean, get to know a fishmonger like Jon Crofts of Codfathers in Kelowna. Jon and Codfathers have a solid reputation for providing fresh seafood, and they go to great lengths to keep it that way. With oysters you get what you pay for, and what you’re paying for here is trust, sustainable fishing practices, and decades of specialized experience. Splurge a little. don’t overthink itOysters are small, delicate things in a seemingly tough shell. The packaging can be deceptive: finesse over force wins every time. If your knife skills are better than mine, try shucking the oyster: gently pry the shell open with a small blade, then run your blade under the fleshy part to separate the meat. “Avoid eating them raw, unless they’re super fresh (less than 24 hours harvested)”, advises Godfrey. “Fresh is always best.” don’t overdo itKeep in mind there isn’t much meat. When using a batter, the oyster’s ready when the batter is “GFD”, says Godfrey with a grin (GFD means “golden f’ing delicious”). While working in Vancouver he cooked a substantial amount of seafood. “My favourite is tempura,” says Godfrey. “The outside is crispy, but the oyster is firm and flavourful.” Timing depends on the size of the oyster, so GFD status varies. Keep watch and all will be fine. With foods as rich as oysters, simple sides are the goal: Caesar salad (sans anchovies) work well with the briny salt flavours, or experiment with textured rough greens and light but creamy dressings. Food served with oysters often doesn’t reach mealtime spotlight, so relax and have fun. Eating raw oysters can be an acquired taste. Admittedly, it took me several years to appreciate a freshly shucked oyster sliding down my throat. The instinct is to chew, but resist – you’ll be rewarded with a lingering taste of the sea that can transport even the most land-locked to distant memories of salt air and strong tides. If raw isn’t for you – and many of us don’t have the confidence of a fishmonger to regularly shuck fresh oysters or the palate to appreciate them – there are ways to ease into oysters. ShuckedServe on the shell with hot sauce (for a kick), lemon (the classic), or with a mignonette (French style) – a vinegar-based accompaniment that can include minced shallots, bay leaves, peppercorns, and sometimes champagne. Pair with Tinhorn Creek 2013 Pinot Gris. Po’ BoyDredge through cornmeal, deep (or pan) fry until GFD, layer on a baguette with mayonnaise, lettuce, and heirloom tomato. Pair with Tinhorn Creek 2013 Gewürztraminer. GrillPlace entire oyster in shell on barbecue or grill. Oysters are cooked when shells open. Tuck in, and serve with cold Sapporo. In the culinary world, love for the oyster is best expressed by a simple sentiment echoed by all in this kitchen: “make friends with oysters.” I think I just did.cookingOkanaganoysters SHARE VIA: Facebook Twitter Pinterest Written By: Jeannette Montgomery Jeannette is EAT's Okanagan writer.\r\n\r\nWith her rural Canadian roots and love of grand experiences, Jeannette is equal \r\n\r\nmeasures country and city. Since moving from Vancouver to the Okanagan in 2007, \r\n\r\nshe quit ... Read More You may also like Food / Recipes October 25, 2021 Sopa Paella Try the iconic Valencian dish as a hearty fall soup brimming with seafood and chorizo. We were going through a heat wave in Victoria when I ... Read More Food / Recipes October 25, 2021 It’s a Pancake Day! That crisp edge in the fall air stirs up a craving for comfort that sometimes only a stack of hot pancakes can deliver. So get your cast-iron pan ... Read More Breads / Food / How to Cook / Recipes July 13, 2021 Rosemary and Feta Potato Loaf A delicious homemade bread is always a welcome treat that can really set the mood for a good day. This is an approachable recipe to bring to holiday ... Read More EAT Magazine News / Food News January 28, 2021 CITY EATS February | March 2021 If you haven’t yet taken advantage of Victoria’s free local delivery program, Downtown Delivers, you have until February 15 to try it ... Read More Food News / Pantry / Review January 28, 2021 Some Like It Hot — A Hot Sauce Tasting Party A Hot Sauce Tasting Party Gillie Easdon gathered 15 local, house-made hot sauces and four brave souls to taste-test them. It was a mid-October, late ... Read More EAT Magazine News / Food News December 7, 2020 EAT’s 2020 Gift Guide EAT’s 2020 Gift Guide. Not just for the holidays! Bolen Books Flavor by Yotam Ottolenghi ($45.00) Cat’s Meow Trivet ($6.95) Book Seat ... Read More Comments are closed.
Food / Recipes October 25, 2021 Sopa Paella Try the iconic Valencian dish as a hearty fall soup brimming with seafood and chorizo. We were going through a heat wave in Victoria when I ... Read More
Food / Recipes October 25, 2021 It’s a Pancake Day! That crisp edge in the fall air stirs up a craving for comfort that sometimes only a stack of hot pancakes can deliver. So get your cast-iron pan ... Read More
Breads / Food / How to Cook / Recipes July 13, 2021 Rosemary and Feta Potato Loaf A delicious homemade bread is always a welcome treat that can really set the mood for a good day. This is an approachable recipe to bring to holiday ... Read More
EAT Magazine News / Food News January 28, 2021 CITY EATS February | March 2021 If you haven’t yet taken advantage of Victoria’s free local delivery program, Downtown Delivers, you have until February 15 to try it ... Read More
Food News / Pantry / Review January 28, 2021 Some Like It Hot — A Hot Sauce Tasting Party A Hot Sauce Tasting Party Gillie Easdon gathered 15 local, house-made hot sauces and four brave souls to taste-test them. It was a mid-October, late ... Read More
EAT Magazine News / Food News December 7, 2020 EAT’s 2020 Gift Guide EAT’s 2020 Gift Guide. Not just for the holidays! Bolen Books Flavor by Yotam Ottolenghi ($45.00) Cat’s Meow Trivet ($6.95) Book Seat ... Read More
Correction / EAT Magazine News May 16, 2022 Correction — May|June 2022 The article on L’Apéro in the May|June issue should have stated Chef Andrea Maiolo staged at The Courtney Room and Zambri’s and that he held the ... Read More
2022 Issues / Drink / EAT Magazine News / Food / Magazine May 6, 2022 May|June 2022 May|June issue on the stands. Read ... Read More
Sparkling Wine Mar 9, 2011 Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava NV There are certain staples in my house, things that I couldn’t imagine not having stockpiles of. In fact, the thought of running out of one of these ... Read More