Oysters

August 9

I am thankful for oysters. Not raw oysters. I learned too much about salmonella in my clinical training to put raw ones in my mouth. But since moving to Baton Rouge when I was twelve, I developed a liking for oysters Bienville. I tried them at just about every restaurant I went to. For many years, Don's Seafood and Steak House in Baton Rouge had the best, in my opinion. They served them casserole style. Even the recipe in the Don's recipe book is pretty much true to form (I've made it with shrimp since I'm the only one in my family that cares for oysters and it was very good). For some time, however, I have not found the Bienville to be as good at Don's. Now, my favorite is Louisiana Lagniappe's (in Baton Rouge) version. They serve theirs on ceramic oyster shell looking dishes, individually for each oyster. Most other places serve them on the half shell. My friend Larry turned me on to chargrilled/charbroiled oysters at Drago's Seafood Restaurant n New Orleans. I have had them at Acme Oyster House in Baton Rouge and they are also outstanding. Bienville has the oysters in a cheese/breakcrumb/shrimp stuffing while chargroiled have garlic butter and parmessan cheese with the oysters. Mmmm good!

Pictured above are a half dozen oyster's Bienville which I got at the Half Shell Oyster House in Gulfport this past Monday night. I also got a half dozen charbroiled oysters, which are pictured below.

August 9b

oysters

many people eat oysters

and many prefer them raw

mix it with tobasco and crackers

swallow them without their jaws

they believe that there is a link

between oysters and sex drive

thinking that by eating those little suckers

their amorousness will thrive

perhaps its due to the fact

that they look like ovaries

or perhaps their amino acids and zinc

will stimulate the testes

i don’t know

and i really do not care

because oysters taste to me

like elegant dinner fare.

© rt tulley