Destination oysters

[annabana]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, The Marshall Store has the best bar-b-q'd oysters on the planet, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Yesterday, the husband and I made another trip up route one from Mill Valley for the aforementioned treasures. Beautiful day, beautiful drive with at least a dozen different kind of wild flowers on the road.

We had to stop, first, in Point Reyes Station at the Pine Cone Diner, having read so much about their version of another of my passions--fried oyster sandwhich. Their's is terrific, especially the bi-valves. Perfectly fried, greaseless, crispy but thin batter, the oysters themselves were plump and juicy. As much as i liked the coleslaw, next time I'll get it on the side rather than on the sandwhich to let those briny babies really shine. The lightly toasted oblong role was Louisianna soft, which is good, but bland in taste, still alright and the thousand island dressing was just the right amount, tho' not as tasty as my home made remoulade. The fries were great, made fresh, not frozen, also greaseless and crispy. Tho' the s'which had only four oysters, they were of the perfect size so you got mouthful in every bite. Next time I'll ask if I can pay extra for a couple of more those great nuggets because the whole plate came to just $10.95. I only tasted the roll and took most of the fries home (great with a little fresh garlic that night and a re-heat in the toaster oven) to save my self for the ultimate destination.

On to The Marshall Store, a little rustic deli/cafe with an adjacent oyster bar sitting right on Tomales Bay. The Husband loves their clam chowder, so he ordered his usual small bowl. I like the consistency and the fresh potatoes and clams, but for my taste its too heavy on the dried herbs, so I passed. We ordered two dozen bar-b-q'd oysters--heaven! The price: $20 per and in the past it was a baker's dozen (13, but I was too busy eating to count.) The fairly new owner recently bought the Tomales Bay Oyster Co. (right name?) and the q'd bi-valves are shucked to order and dabbed with the barest amount of q sauce and garlic butter. They came to our table on the small bay front deck, hot but barely grilled and swimming in their own liguor whose flavor was only enhanced with the tiniest bit of the garlic butter q sauce. The o's were plump, fresh and tasting of everything these fine specimens should. Perfectly shucked as well, not a bit of shell. We also shared a half bottle of french Vouvray (forgot the name but it was a Kermit Lynch selection and delicous at $14.)

A word about the beer and wine policy. You choose your own from the cooler, but you cannot drink it inside or on the deck. They have set up some tables and barrels next to oyster bar out on the road so you can eat and if you like drink there. I had my first few o's on the deck with The Husband, then scooped up several more to enjoy with my wine outside (I am more of a drinker, which is why TH always does the driving.) This policy was not always the case. When TH and I first discovered The Marshall store almost 10 years ago, we could drink inside and on the deck (used to be a superb Sancerre in the cooler, selection way down now, but as Spencer Tracey once said about Kate Hepburn, "what's there is choice.") Just before the original owner Kathy sold they had to start to the new policy, apparently because they did not have indoor rest rooms (porta potties a few feet away in the boatyard/marina, not optimal but always very clean.) The new owner says they are working to construct indoor facilities.

The Marshall Store also serves deli sandwhiches which I have never ordered. I have had their Oysters Rockefellers which I usually like, but in this case the other ingredients (particularly the anise flavor) overwhelmed the raison d'etre--the oysters. Their raw o's are of course great, but I can get those a lot closer to Mill Valley,

Fish, in Sausalito says they learned to bar.b.q oysters from The Marshall Store's last owner, Kathy, but as much as I love almost everything about Fish, theirs do not measure up (btw, neither do their fried oysters, save your mouth for the Pine Cone Diner.) The last time we made our oyster run up the coast, TH and I made a comparative stop at Nick's Cove. Now, I am big Pat Kuleto fan, and Nick's Cove is a really nice place, but if you want real Route One rusticity, fabulous Tomales Bay views and the best bar-b-q'd oysters on the planet, The Marshall Store is your destination.

[jillyju]

I had a similarly spectacular experience the last time I was at The Marshall Store, at the beginning of May. Thanks for the reminder, perhaps we'll take a drive up this weekend.
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[annabana]

hello fellow traveler. The Marshall Store is really worth destination status, imho, just for the q'd oysters. I forgot the grilled lightly garlic'd sourdo that comes with 'em. Really good and tho' lightly toasted is great for soping up the last of the liquor in the shells. The tranquil and beautiful drive (dozens of egrets in Bolinas Bay) and views are the best kind of gravy.

[dhoffman1421]

I have tomorrow off, this sounds like a great way to spend the afternoon. And I love oysters! Thanks for the recommendation.

[cakebaker]

I totally agree. The Marshall Store is so unexpectedly amazing. If you don't know about it, you could miss it totally. I also agree the BBQ oysters are the best...though all the preparations are fabulous but my favorite is the bbq. It is worth the drive and becomes a taste reference you can't forget.

[rworange]

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