10301 Sun Sep 02 13:00:50 -0700 2001 8 4 Pacific Northwest 0 11417 Whenever I can, I begin a meal with a half dozen oysters on the half shell. Where is the best place for oysters in Northwest? My standard is the Acme in New Orleans. I don't think we have anything to compare on two counts: the oysters themselves and the quality of the shucking. Gulf oysters are generaly larger, richer and sweeter in my opinion. Penn Coves are the closest I have found. I was raised up in Whatcom County. I remember going out to Semiamoo Spit to pick up oysters. My grandpa carried a lemon and a pepper shaker in his pocket and he would shuck a few right on the beach with his jack knife. Through the lense of memory, those oysters were at least as rich and sweet as gulf oysters. That was over forty years ago. Now, the so-called oyster houses have their lists of the varieties and exotic sauces for the foodies, but they can't seem do a straight forward job of shucking. I really have a problem with laying out ten bucks for 6 oysters at Chandlers or the Fish Cafe and then having to spit shells out of most of them. I don't believe I have ever found a shell in an oyster at the Acme. Am I just too picky? Or do others think the PNW oyster purveyers need to sharpen up before we all move to New Orleans? Sun Sep 02 13:00:50 -0700 2001 0 WD 1 11418 Seattle: One would expect Seattle to be a good seafood town. One would, generally, be disappointed. Probably the best-looking spread of oysters is at the Brooklyn Diner, downtown. But I'm not entirely carzy about the place, especially the atmosphere. Portland: Dan and Louis's Oyster Bar. Accept no substitutes. Sun Sep 02 21:32:15 -0700 2001 11417 0 robert 2 11474 Umqua Bay Acquaculture in Winchester Bay, just south of Reedsport, shucks 'em fresh every day. fabulous, briny sea taste and you don't get fresher. it's a drive from anywhere, but worth, definitely, a detour if you're southbound on 101. Thu Sep 06 23:44:51 -0700 2001 11418 0 David Dowell 1 11440 I haven't been for a few years, but the Oysterfest at the Mason County Fairgrounds in Shelton (west of Olympia) is a great place to eat oysters. Usually held on the first weekend in October..call the Chamber of Commerce or Rotary (I think they sponsor it) for details. My best oyster eating has been near Quilcene, where a Seattle friend has a cabin with shared rights to an oyster beach. We collect big Pacifics at low tide and pile them onto a campfire until they heat enough to just open up. We also get oysters, even in the summer, from a small grower on the Tillamook Bay. He says the cold water from the Coast Range keeps them firm all year, and they are. I've never been real happy with oysters in restaurants either. Places like the Oyster Bar and Jake's here in Portland that sell a million of them do it best because the shellfish are fresher. I've yet to eat Gulf oyster (sorry...I did have some in Ft Meyers Beach, FLA) but would be a little concerned about all of the toxins coming down the Mississippi...probably not enough to keep me from eating them, though. Tue Sep 04 16:27:47 -0700 2001 11417 0 Jim Dixon 1 11452 I've never had oysters at the Acme in New Orleans, so I'm unable to make any comparisons. However, I've had absolutely excellent oysters at several of the "regular" oyster bars in Seattle. Namely (in my order of preference): The Brooklyn, Elliott's, and FX McRory's. I've also had excellent oysters at Etta's, but I don't know how often they're on the menu there. I've definitely encountered poorly shucked oysters at several places I haven't mentioned. I've only had one poorly shucked oyster at The Brooklyn (out of hundreds). There's a wonderful yearly event held each March called "The Oyster Olympics." It's held at Anthony's at Shilshole, and it's a fundraiser for the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. I believe tickets are in the $40.00-$60.00 range. The ticket allows you to eat all the oysters you can stomach. It's a great opportunity to meet the oyster distributors, harvesters, etc. Each "grower" sets up his/her own booth and shucks away, and there are oysters to sample from many, many locations. Local wineries participate too, and it's fun to match up different wines (also included in the price of a ticket) with the different "flavors" of oysters. There's also a costume contest, an oyster shucking contest, a few other entertaining contests, a live band or two, and basic buffet tables (but who wants to eat "real" food when there's all you can eat oysters?). You can phone the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance (I don't have their phone number; I'm not affiliated with them in any way) in February to order tickets or to get more information. Additionally, there are loads of great oysters to have if you're willing to shuck them yourself. I just drove back from Oysterville with 12-dozen oysters that had been harvested that morning. They packed them on ice, and a bunch of us enjoyed them only several hours later. Good luck. Wed Sep 05 17:38:11 -0700 2001 11417 0 Jen 2 11454 I second the Oyster Olympics. Oyster heaven! The growers shuck them right on the spot for you to taste. I went a few years ago, it was wonderful! I believe the price is now more like $65 though. See the link below for the phone number. Link: http://www.pcsga.org/archive/FullStory2.asp?id=17 Wed Sep 05 20:12:57 -0700 2001 11452 0 Leslie T. 3 11456 I have already put the Oyster Olympics on my calendar and I am planning a trip to Oysterville this weekend. Thank You!! Thu Sep 06 01:07:12 -0700 2001 11454 0 WD 1 11457 Shuckers at The Four Seasons and Waterfront serve my favorite oysters in town. Thu Sep 06 01:44:31 -0700 2001 11417 0 Chris 1 11519 The Ark in Nahcotta, Wa, and Xinh's in Shelton, Wa both have outstanding oysters. Both have fabulously fresh oysters, and Xinh's has interesting preparations(lemongrass, ginger). Thu Sep 13 23:17:58 -0700 2001 11417 0 ira