Oysters
Posted by: Rasher on 07 March 2006
I love 'em, but my wife has never tried one and has only just decided that she needs to put that right - finally. She has always chickened out at the last minute. I'm taking her out to an oyster bar as soon as we can arrange a babysitter.
Thing is, I love the way they transport me to the sea, like I was standing under the pier at 3.00am with the sea crashing on the stones, but it being too dark to see it, with your hair matted from the salt spray. Like watching Quadraphenia for the first time in 1978, or whenever it was. They just do that to me - it's magic and so intense. I'm probably missing the point of what they are really about though. I always just need the one, as more is just the same again but without the initial hit, and that seems to be wasted on me.
Anyone else get that from oysters, or am I just weird? I wonder what she will make of them. I'd hate to think that she doesn't "get it".
Thing is, I love the way they transport me to the sea, like I was standing under the pier at 3.00am with the sea crashing on the stones, but it being too dark to see it, with your hair matted from the salt spray. Like watching Quadraphenia for the first time in 1978, or whenever it was. They just do that to me - it's magic and so intense. I'm probably missing the point of what they are really about though. I always just need the one, as more is just the same again but without the initial hit, and that seems to be wasted on me.
Anyone else get that from oysters, or am I just weird? I wonder what she will make of them. I'd hate to think that she doesn't "get it".
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by Geoff P
Oysters
Slippery, ice cold, realtively bland tasting but as you say capturing the imagined taste of the sea with the saltiness overlaid with fishy flavors. Great if you "get" it. Almost inedible unless you hold your nose and swallow with your eyes closed if you don't "get" it.
Sooo.... either a complete success in the making or an absolute failure. let us know
Slippery, ice cold, realtively bland tasting but as you say capturing the imagined taste of the sea with the saltiness overlaid with fishy flavors. Great if you "get" it. Almost inedible unless you hold your nose and swallow with your eyes closed if you don't "get" it.
Sooo.... either a complete success in the making or an absolute failure. let us know
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by Malky
A squeeze of lemon and a dash of tabasco, maybe followed by a Laphroaig.
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by Rasher
Er..no. Shouldn't have spirits after oysters. Instant poisoning. 
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by Bob McC
She could have them lightly steamed with beurre blanc if she can't take them raw.
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by garyi
Rasher what you on about?
Oyseters are funny things and there is only two choices you love them or hate them. If you hate them your inveriably will eat them twice.
The trouble is cooking them makes the flavour very intense, far more than say a mussel. If I were you I would goto a seafood restaurant and try some mussels etc first.
I like oysters but they are not quite as senstational for me, most times they really just taste like watered down saline solution. But I do 'get it'
Oyseters are funny things and there is only two choices you love them or hate them. If you hate them your inveriably will eat them twice.
The trouble is cooking them makes the flavour very intense, far more than say a mussel. If I were you I would goto a seafood restaurant and try some mussels etc first.
I like oysters but they are not quite as senstational for me, most times they really just taste like watered down saline solution. But I do 'get it'
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by BigH47
Had a dozen last night 2 didn't work though!
The first time we(+misses) had them was in New Orleans servrd with fiery dip. Mind you at the time the exchange rate made them about £1 a dozen,so they were good vfm.
Personally I prefer mussels or cockles.
Howard
The first time we(+misses) had them was in New Orleans servrd with fiery dip. Mind you at the time the exchange rate made them about £1 a dozen,so they were good vfm.
Personally I prefer mussels or cockles.
Howard
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by Traveling Dan
A squeeze of lemon and a dash of tabasco - and accompanied by a pint of Guinness (the real stuff, not the poor excuse they serve up in England).
Alternatively ... cooked with a little spinach, some bacon and melted Cashel Blue cheese - mmmmmm!
Alternatively ... cooked with a little spinach, some bacon and melted Cashel Blue cheese - mmmmmm!
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by Rasher
I've never had them cooked. Seems like an awful waste to me. I also can't bring myself to put anything on them, which also seems like a waste; like putting Coke in a single malt. Jeeze..I'm more of a purist than I thought!
Garyi - my wife loves mussels but they always seem to make her ill. (doesn't look good does it).
Garyi - my wife loves mussels but they always seem to make her ill. (doesn't look good does it).
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by erik scothron
I only think about snot and a french girl I used to know when I have oysters. Are you going to 'English's' in the Lanes'?
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by graham55
Erik
I take it that your French girl was none too particular about washing?
Graham
I take it that your French girl was none too particular about washing?
Graham
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:Originally posted by graham55:
Erik
I take it that your French girl was none too particular about washing?
Graham
Exactly. 10 points to you.
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by graham55
Erik
It's not impossible to like both, of course. I love oysters, but I'd turn them down any time for a mademoiselle (qui lavait en bas).
Graham
It's not impossible to like both, of course. I love oysters, but I'd turn them down any time for a mademoiselle (qui lavait en bas).
Graham
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:Originally posted by graham55:
Erik
It's not impossible to like both, of course. I love oysters, but I'd turn them down any time for a mademoiselle (qui lavait en bas).
Graham
The thing is Graham, she was perfectly delightful in many ways and more than respectable but in one area at least she was more anchovy than oyster and I think therefore a required taste. Personally I love french girls and nearly married one who modelled to put herself through medical school but when I proposed to her in Paris she announced, alas, she was already married, but separated, from an Italian in Milan. When I asked why she had not told me before she looked at me indignantly and said that I had not asked her if she were married. Considering we were together for nearly a year you might think this strange. I did.
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by Rasher
quote:Originally posted by erik scothron:
Are you going to 'English's' in the Lanes'?
I was thinking of Loch Fyne initially, but their oysters are bred in tidal streams mixed with fresh water from the mountain slopes, so are more "Oystery" than the full smack yourself around the head seawater variety, so yes, it leaves a trip to English's oyster bar (bit too stuffy for me). They do Pacific oysters. Then we can go on to get some proper food somewhere nice, like The Gingerman at Drakes Hotel maybe.
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:Originally posted by Rasher:
Then we can go on to get some proper food somewhere nice, like The Gingerman at Drakes Hotel maybe.
Too many gingermen in Brighton surely? I have not eaten in Drakes but I hear good things. I do Leonardo's in Hove for Italian, Harry's, Hove for good old english nosh and China China for quick and inexpensive er.. chinese. English's is not what it used to be, not sure why, new managment maybe. For special occasions I go to Ockenden Manor in Cuckfield which is very up-market without being stuffy and has a wine cellar to die for or Amberly Castle in er..Amberly, stay for a weekend and be king of the castle and sleep in a four poster. Any suggestions for Thai in Brighton/Hove?
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by Bob McC
food or girlie-boy?
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:Originally posted by bob mccluckie:
food or girlie-boy?
The latter.
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by Rasher
Thai: There is Mai Thai where the Black Chapati used to be, but I haven't tried it yet. But I used to regularly go to Esarn Kheaw in Shepherds Bush on the Uxbridge Road, and after that place, everything else Thai is just bland and I'd rather not bother. I would drive up there and back without hesitation to eat there. It is extraordinarily good.
China China: I'm meeting someone there for lunch next week - haven't tried it before. Is it good?
China China: I'm meeting someone there for lunch next week - haven't tried it before. Is it good?
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by erik scothron
quote:Originally posted by Rasher:
Thai:
China China: I'm meeting someone there for lunch next week - haven't tried it before. Is it good?
China China is where the chinese eat Chinese and that says alot. It is cheap and cheerful but better than it was when on t'other side of the street. Mixed crowd in there, chinese, foreign language students, filipino nurses, locals looking for good quick inexpensive food before/after a trip to the cinema etc. I go at least once a week for lunch. When it's busy (there used to be queues outside the old place)the waiters whisk your plate away the moment you take your last mouthful but I have not experienced this since they moved to the bigger premises. China Garden on t'other side of road is way more plush, saw Saw Paul McCartney in there once. China China - good no nonesense inexpensive and quick.
Posted on: 07 March 2006 by Malky
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rasher:
Er..no. Shouldn't have spirits after oysters. Instant poisoning.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
How so??? Explain.
Er..no. Shouldn't have spirits after oysters. Instant poisoning.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
How so??? Explain.
Posted on: 08 March 2006 by Rasher
I thought it was pretty well known and understood that you shouldn't have spirits, especially whisky after oysters because it would make you very very ill. I haven't tried it of course, but I've always known it. I'll take a look into it - it may be wrong.
Posted on: 08 March 2006 by Rasher
I put "oysters spirits" into Google. I was right.
Posted on: 08 March 2006 by TomK
I've eaten oysters twice, both times on a boys night out. The first time I thought they were the food of the gods. I'd never tasted anything so wonderful and ate more than my fair share. Second time, a few months later, I could hardly taste anything. I never worked out if it was the fault of the oysters or my taste buds but it was very disappointing. Incidentally both times they were accompanied by large amounts of alcohol, particularly premium quality vodka (had friends in the seafood and licensing trades at the time) and no ill effects were reported by anybody.
Posted on: 08 March 2006 by Jim Lawson
Rasher
"does not aid in the digestion of" hardly equals instant poisoning. come on now. vodka and oysters are exquisite together.
Jim
"does not aid in the digestion of" hardly equals instant poisoning. come on now. vodka and oysters are exquisite together.
Jim
Posted on: 09 March 2006 by Lomo
No better way to start a quality dining experience and just as good straight off the rocks.