WHEN I THINK ABOUT the moment I fell in love with food, I think about oysters. I was maybe 12, and slurping down a raw oyster felt like an alarming dare. I picked up the rough, jagged shell and, using a tiny fork, scooped the meat directly into my mouth. I'd never tasted anything like it-briny, sweet, and overwhelmingly fresh, like the ocean. I ate a whole dozen.
Oysters are humble yet magical. In the ocean, they promote aquatic biodiversity, and according to the Billion Oyster Project (a nonprofit devoted to restoring oyster reefs in New York Harbor), one oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day-meaning that oyster farming can be incredibly sustainable when done responsibly. And on land, oysters are just as delicious raw as they are grilled, baked, and charbroiled.
For most people, oysters feel like a food that needs to be eaten while out to dinner at a fancy restaurant, or at a celebratory happy hour, or at a beachside seafood spot while on vacation. And yes, there is a certain kind of luxury attendant on a shiny platter of icy-cold shellfish being set down in front of you. But once you understand how to source, store, and open oysters yourself, enjoying these beautiful mollusks at home becomes easy. To level up your holiday party-or any party!-bring out a tray or two of oysters. Shuck them tableside. Pair them with Champagne (or a dirty martini) while you're at it. Just make sure that, for each one you eat, you take a beat to savor the moment.
KNOW YOUR OYSTERS
American oysters vary by region and by species.
この記事は Food & Wine の December 2024/January 2025 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Food & Wine の December 2024/January 2025 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Start Small, Think Bliss Partnering with the James Beard Foundation makes Windstar's cruises a delicious route into French Polynesia.
ASI SIPPED A ROBUST CUP of French roast while leaning against the bow railing of our yacht, we glided into the sapphire waters of Taiohae Bay, deep in the South Pacific.
HOME SWEET HOME
An all-butter gingerbread and a streamlined, stylish design are the secrets to these modern gingerbread houses. We've got the recipe and plans you need to get your (gingerbread) house in order.
SHÖGATSU
The Japanese New Year starts off with a simple bowl of soup.
KWANZAA
Seven days of celebration offer endless opportunities for connection and creativity.
ST. LUCIA'S DAY
Fragrant, pillowy saffron buns add sweetness and warmth to the Scandinavian holiday.
HANUKKAH
For Italy's Jewish communities, the festival of lights means one thing: lemony fried chicken.
CHRISTMAS
South India is home to one of the world's oldest Christian communitiesand distinct, delicious traditions.
NOCHEBUENA
Christmas Eve means big gatherings, big meals, and beloved traditions for Latino families around the world.
YALDA NIGHT
For this Persian celebration of the winter solstice, late-night snacks are in order.
A FAT AFFAIR
Life lessons from the richest—and Frenchest—holiday tradition on earth