Don't know how to order oysters? A seafood chef shares tips to help you avoid rookie mistakes
There are different sizes, varieties, and toppings. Should you go with Blue Point or Kumamoto? Should you add mignonette or cocktail sauce?
To answer all your burning questions and help you look like an expert at a seafood restaurant, we asked Aidan Owens to share his tips.
The Australian chef is the culinary director for Herb & Wood in San Diego and Herb & Sea in Encinitas, California, where he exclusively cooks with seafood from independent local fishermen. Owens even has an oyster shell recycling program to help a local lagoon conservation foundation.
Now, without further ado, here's Oysters 101.
East Coast vs. West Coast
It's common to see oysters identified as "East Coast" or "West Coast" on restaurant menus. This identifies whether the oysters come from the Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, which infuses them with different flavors.
"East Coast oysters — like Blue Points or Wellfleets — are briny, salty, and lean," Owens told Business Insider. "West Coast oysters — like Kumamotos or Shigokus — are smaller, creamier, and sometimes a little sweet."
If you like your oysters mild, opt for those from colder waters. Owens explained that they grow more slowly and have a softer flavor.
"Brinier oysters usually come from warmer, saltier waters," he added. "They taste like the ocean."
Large vs. small
Don't just choose bigger oysters for the extra meat. They have a different taste from oysters of the smaller variety.
"Bigger oysters are brinier, meatier, and built for the grill," Owens said. "Smaller oysters are delicate and silky, perfect with just a squeeze of lemon."
If it's your first time with oysters, Owens suggests starting small.
"I usually recommend Kusshis or Kumamotos," he said. "They're delicate, sweet, and super approachable for first-timers."
Don't forget the toppings
When it comes to raw oysters, Owens prefers to keep the toppings minimal.
"A splash of lemon, a classic mignonette, or maybe a fermented hot sauce," he said.
However, don't be afraid to pack a punch if you're grilling the oysters.
"Go bold with garlic butter, smoky bacon, or even a little kimchi butter," Owens added.
Stay safe with a smell test
The rule that you should only eat oysters during the months that end with "R" is an outdated myth that "comes from a time before refrigeration," Owens said.
"Back then, warmer months made oysters riskier to eat," he added. "Thanks to modern refrigeration and farming practices, oysters are safe and delicious year-round."
All you need is a quick smell test to ensure your oyster is fresh.
"A good oyster smells like clean ocean air," Owens said. "If it smells like a bait bucket left in the sun, walk away."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
16 hours ago
- Business Insider
My grandparents raised me and parented with fear. I tried to do things differently, but the result was the same.
My grandparents raised me, and they weren't around much. I was often without adult supervision, and in an effort to protect me, they injected a healthy dose of fear into their parenting. And though it did instill both discernment and resilience, it also created anxiety. While the origins of many of the stories that scared me didn't come directly from them, they perpetuated the myth and often added to it. I remember, at the age of 8, watching a movie as a family about the slow fallout of a nuclear war. No discussions followed the movie, no attempts to assuage my fears, even when I told them about the nightmares that came in the weeks after. The things my grandparents warned me about often became a recurring theme of my childhood nightmares. Though their intentions were good, telling them about my fear just seemed to solidify their commitment to parenting me this way. I wanted to parent differently Before I became a parent myself, I talked with my grandparents about my upbringing. They told me they had figured I was better off scared than dead. I reminded them of all the ways my anxiety manifested with the chronic nightmares and fears around everything from death to nuclear war, but they offered no apologies. I knew I wanted to parent differently. At 30, I had a son. Over the next eight years, I had three more kids. Rather than pull scary tales from the daily news or the town rumor mill, I kept them sheltered. When they asked about issues I thought could be frightening, I tried to explain in a way that was both direct and sensitive. Sometimes, the overwhelming anxiety I struggled with made it difficult, though I don't think I knew it at the time. I learned that my son dealt with similar anxieties Retrospection can be difficult as a parent. It often provides an overarching, distanced perspective we don't have when our children are little. Maybe this was why I was caught off guard when my 20-year-old son came over to have dinner one night and announced, "I'm afraid of everything." When I asked what "everything" included, he delivered a list as long as my own. It included driving, fire, water, and a million other things. Please help BI improve our Business, Tech, and Innovation coverage by sharing a bit about your role — it will help us tailor content that matters most to people like you. What is your job title? (1 of 2) Entry level position Project manager Management Senior management Executive management Student Self-employed Retired Other Continue By providing this information, you agree that Business Insider may use this data to improve your site experience and for targeted advertising. By continuing you agree that you accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . "You passed all the fear from when you grew up to me," he said. Though I had aimed to raise my children differently from how my grandparents parented me, we had seemingly achieved a similar result. I, too, had created fear, which morphed into anxiety. My son carried it into adulthood just as I had. As we said our goodbyes, I thought back to my early years as a parent. I told my kids to be careful with electricity. "Don't plug that in," I heard myself saying from almost two decades prior, "you might get shocked or start a fire." At the beach, warnings were issued about swimming too far out without adult supervision. "You told us never to swim alone," my son said, "and I remember swimming with friends and searching for an adult. At 13, it became embarrassing." The truth hurt, but it wasn't all bad Looking back at how I'd parented in contrast to my intention was eye-opening. I didn't even realize I had anxiety until my 40s. I assumed everyone lived the way that I did — in a perpetual state of fear. "I didn't know," I told my son. Then, I did what I've always done when I make a mistake: I told him I was sorry. He told me it was OK, before adding, "It is probably part of the reason I made it to adulthood." While I was truly grateful for his forgiveness and understanding, I knew I needed to start doing things differently with my youngest two children, now 14 and 12. I've gone to therapy and also realized the value of taking medication to control my anxiety. What I am trying to do now is instill confidence in my kids. My fears oozed onto everything I did and affected the way I parented. I suppose, like my grandparents, I was just doing my best to make sure my kids were safe.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Have Confirmed the Shipwreck of Captain Cook's Long-Lost Endeavour
Here's what you'll learn when you read this article: Experts have finally confirmed that a shipwreck off the coast of Rhode Island is the wreckage of Captain James Cook's HMS Endeavour. Also known as the HMB Endeavour and the Lord Sandwich, the ship was purposely sunk in 1778. The Australian National Maritime Museum claimed the identified wreck, called RI 2394, was the Endeavour back in 2023, but the Rhode Island Maritime Archeology Project required more evidence before confirming the remains in question were indeed those of the lost vessel. This story is a collaboration with Popular Mechanics A shipwreck off the coast of Rhode Island has officially been confirmed to be the HMS Endeavour, according to a new report from the Australian National Maritime Museum. The sunken vessel, also known as the HMB Endeavour (short for His Majesty's Bark) and the Lord Sandwich, had long been sought since it was purposefully sunk in 1778. Now, the wreckage once labeled RI 2394 has been confirmed to be that same ship, once made famous by Captain James Cook. But if you feel like you'd actually read this same story years ago, it's not just deja vu. As Popular Mechanics previously reported, RI 2394 had been announced by the Australian National Maritime Museum to be the HMS Endeavour in February of 2022. But at that time, their research partners involved in the project, the Rhode Island Maritime Archeology Project, questioned the announcement, feeling that while RI 2394 was certainly a strong candidate, more research was needed to officially declare it the Endeavour. Then, in December of 2023, the Australian National Maritime Museum reasserted their declaration, pointing to further evidence gleaned from the wreckage's pump well and bow. At that time, they stated that they '...call on the preponderance of evidence where we've got a whole series of things that tie into Endeavour. And so far, we've found lots of things that tick the boxes for it to be the Endeavour and nothing on the list which says it's not.' Yet, only now, in this new final report for 2025, has the Rhode Island Maritime Archeology Project come to see eye to eye with the Australian National Maritime Museum. The report's executive summary, written by Kieran Hosty & James Hunter and published by the Australian National Maritime Museum, states: 'In 1999 and again in 2019, RIMAP and ANMM agreed on a set of criteria that, if satisfied, would permit identification of RI 2394 as Lord Sandwich[…] Based on the agreed preponderance of evidence approach, enough of these criteria have now been met for the ANMM to positively identify RI 2394 as the remnants of Lord Sandwich, formerly James Cook's HMB Endeavour.' So now, there is no dispute. The long-sought Endeavour wreckage has officially been identified. What made the search for the Endeavour such enduring one across these centuries? As the report writes, 'His Majesty's Bark (HMB) Endeavour is a significant vessel in Australian maritime history,' though they concede that it is 'one that elicits mixed opinions.' 'For some, the Pacific voyage led by James Cook between 1768 and 1771 embodies the spirit of Europe's Age of Enlightenment, while for others it symbolizes the onset of colonization and the subjugation of First Nations Peoples,' the report reads. But even for those in Australia deeply aware of Captain Cook, they might not know the other role the Endeavour played, that of a 'British troop transport and prison ship caught up in the American War of Independence.' Hence why the then-named Lord Sandwich was sunk near Rhode Island, only just now to be officially, formally found. This final definitive declaration identifying the vessel isn't just the resolution of an announcement controversy from a few years back; it's the culmination of what the reports notes was 'a 26-year program of archival and archaeological research.' The collaboration between the two organizations began in 1999, due in part to the state of Rhode Island having claim over all wrecks that had been scuttled in Newport Harbor in 1778, which would include the wreck proved to be the Endeavour. Building on the archival research of Australian historians Mike Connell and Des Liddy and the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project's Dr. Kathy Abbass, the report notes this collaboration 'led to a series of archaeological expeditions in Newport Harbor in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004.' These endeavors to find the Endeavour consisted of 'remote sensing of the seafloor, underwater survey by divers, and analysis of samples of stone, coal, timber, and sediment raised from a range of shipwreck sites of 18th-century vintage.' But none of the wreckages exhibited characteristics which could be indicative of the Lord Sandwich. Their efforts resumed in 2015, and by 2016 they had narrowed down where in the harbor the ship had been scuttled. That allowed them to whittle down a group of 13 ships sunk in 1778 to just 5, which were, in the absence of proper identification, labelled as RI 2396, RI 2397, RI 2578, RI 2393, and RI 2394. 'The two largest shipwreck sites, RI 2578 and RI 2394, were considered the most likely candidates for the remains of Lord Sandwich,' the report continues. But further analysis determined that RI 2578 didn't demonstrate enough of the requisite characteristics to be the Lord Sandwich. In investigating RI 2394, however, the team found a number of characteristics that looked promising, including 'dimensions of a range of structural timbers' which 'compare favorably with measurements taken when Endeavour was surveyed by the Royal Navy in 1768,' and procured timber samples which suggest repairs made with European timber, much in the same fashion as the Endeavour/Sandwich, 'which underwent significant repairs in 1776, shortly after being sold out of naval service.' After much analysis, all parties involved can now confidently conclude that RI 2394 is, in fact, Captain Cook's long lost HMS Endeavour/HMB Endeavour/Lord Sandwich. If anyone else has any reason why this wreckage should not be identified as such, speak now or forever hold your peace. You Might Also Like Nicole Richie's Surprising Adoption Story The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother Queen Camilla's Life in Photos Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Late night encounter in suburban car park highlights issue that 'should concern everyone'
A late-night encounter in a suburban car park with an invasive predator has exposed a growing problem, which one Aussie warns should be a concern to "everyone". Western Sydney resident Gabriel was taking a stroll after dark when he came across an incredibly brazen fox. While the sighting itself is a common occurrence in urban spaces, what surprised the wildlife enthusiast was just how tame the invasive predator appeared to be. "I went for a walk, and when I was in the car park of Valentine Park, I saw this fox," Gabriel told Yahoo News of the encounter in Glenwood earlier this week. "I thought it would have seen me and run away, but it let me get really close, and even came sniffing for food. It was really tame, I believe, because it's in a suburb, it's become accustomed to humans." Prolific fox populations affect major cities across the country, with urban areas like Sydney, Melbourne and Perth hosting some of the highest populations in the country due to their availability of food, water and shelter. There are an estimated 1.7 million foxes in Australia, according to the Australian National University. "Foxes are one of the worst invasive species that we have here for many reasons," said Gabriel. "They adapt very well to almost everywhere, eat most food, they're smart and cunning, and they've made their home in the Sydney suburbs. "It should be a concern to everyone," he said. Reason foxes are a big problem in Australia Reacting to the footage, fox population management specialist Gillian Basnett told Yahoo that it's likely this one has been "fed by people before". "It is definitely not a good idea to feed foxes, both because they are a declared pest and have significant impacts on wildlife and pets and cause a nuisance, but also because if they become used to being fed and less scared of people, the risk of attack increases," she said. "It might be that they are more visible at the moment because they are searching out mates and den sites at this time of year," she explained. Growing populations of foxes have a major impact on wildlife, and are contributing to the speeding up of native animal loss in our cities, along with human activity. There have been several sightings in cities in recent months, with one Melbourne fox affectionately named 'Frédérique', by locals. Another fox was photographed standing in the middle of a busy Perth intersection in the middle of the day, not long after local authorities revealed the predators had killed 300 turtles in an ecologically significant set of wetlands over the span of a year. Basnet explained that managing foxes in urban areas is difficult due to the lack of access to management tools in heavily populated areas. "What we do know is that if we can remove/reduce the available food then we can reduce their numbers," she said. "There is a lot of food available in cities from rubbish, pet food, fruit, compost, discarded food and tips." 🚘 Predator spotted on Aussie road exposes sinister reality 🐢 Aussie council under pressure as iconic species ravaged by predator 📸 Sad story behind image of emu toes amid Australia's invasive species crisis How Aussies can help reduce fox populations Everyday Aussies can help reduce fox populations in cities by restricting access to food. Don't leave pet food outside overnight Use enclosed compost bins Keep domestic animals secure at night Remove fallen fruit around fruit trees Keep garbage bins covered Block entry points to drains Close off access to underneath buildings Use fox-proof enclosures for poultry, remember foxes dig and can climb Turn off outside lights that might attract insects Reduce weeds that provide food and shelter, such as Blackberries Record sightings in FoxScan. Deterrents need to be intermittent as they will habituate quickly. E.g. sensor spotlights rather than lights on all the time. Have gardens with lots of plants that wildlife can hide in, grasses, shrubs, rocks, logs, etc. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
