Food firsts

The other day I convinced someone to eat their first fresh oyster at Sardine. They weren't very excited about eating an oyster. They had heard about the "texture". But being up for anything they tried it, loved it, and had another.

I wish I could go back to the first time I ever tasted a raw oyster, and savor that moment again.

A screamingly fresh oyster is buttery, light, and wet, almost like eating a cloud. It starts off with a high salinity which is matched with a little squeeze of lemon or a dash of mignonette (a mixture of acidic vinegar, shallots and black pepper) which is usually provided with raw oysters in a restaurant. The buttery, rich notes burst into your mouth at the first bite and the unique flavor of where that oyster grew up fills your mouth. Each cove and inlet which an oyster can live in gives it a unique oceanic terroir. Maybe oysters aren't for everyone... but that just leaves more for you and me!

Montreal

I'm in Montreal to eat lots of food and drink delicious wine. I'll be reporting in on the Instagram feed periodically with pictures.

Last night was Le Bremner with raw scallops on the half shell, oysters, a BLT buried in a mountain of perfectly tender Nordic shrimp and lobster, and for a main, a bowl of clam chowder topped with a giant piece of hake. The line caught halibut in a maple cream sauce was also a highlight!

I'll have a lot more on that as well as pictures of everything else we're eating over here next week!

Bon NOM!

The only way to eat seafood.

Move over peasants! I'm here to eat all of your live seafood. This is the only way to really eat seafood. Us of the nobility know of no other way!

The ability to point out the exact fish that you want to eat, to pick out the oysters, shrimp, razor clams, pinkish blobs, edible-looking stones. Now that is something for only us of the 1%. Now move aside you plebian pests! I must poke a well heeled finger at the food to let the chefy know how he may please me today.

This is the most luxurious way to eat seafood. I found this on the street in China. Welcome to the lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

Snips?

Snails?

Puppy dog tails.

Ancient Chinese Secret

What is the ancient Chinese secret?

Garlic.

Grilled Oyster with Garlic.

Start with a live oyster, scallop, etc. Open and insert cellophane(bean thread) noodles, and cover in a pureed Garlic sauce. Grill over charcoal.

Wow. just just... wow. The garlic caramelizes in it's own juices turning this glorious golden color and becomes sweet and smokey. No one would tell me what was in the sauce other then garlic. I guess thats why it's an ancient Chinese secret. I think it must be minced garlic and ginger with some oil. Fear not, I will be doing some experimenting and perfecting this, anyone want to come over?