The Oyster Bar; Carolina Style!

This is the best time of year for oysters! Whether you like your oysters raw, roasted or steamed, North Carolina is the place to eat them!  I have learned a lot about oystering from my "local" husband! The art of tonging is the method in which to harvest deep water oysters and the most popular is wading at low tide catching oysters by hand.  Shucking oysters is a true talent and although serving on the half shell works at home, my favorite is oyster shooters!  I recommend adding lemon infused Vodka to serve as oyster "cocktail"!

     A large shooter can hold 2 to 3oz.

     2 oysters 

     1 teaspoon of cocktail sauce

      Dash of Texas Pete  ( I am known to have a mini bottle of Pete in my purse)

     Juice of one lemon wedge

     Garnish with a Saltine

Our perfect oyster roast would include a visit from our best family friends, The Cagle's from Lexington NC.  They introduced us to Yarborough's cocktail sauce.  Yarborough's has been mixing the secret sauce since 1940!  Living on the Carolina Coast I am sad the best cocktail sauce I have ever tasted is found clear across the state!  I crave it anytime we have a roast or boil! In a hurry, we also like Kelchner's which we buy when we purchase oysters at the Atlantic Beach Seafood Market on the Causeway, the Willis family has been in the seafood business since 1939.  The third choice of course is my homemade sauce! Ketchup mixed with Texas Pete, horseradish, lemon juice, jalapenos chopped with juice! 

by Eric McRay, NC Artist

If you are in North Carolina and are not shucking your own!  There are several Southern hot spots that are sure to satisfy your craving for oysters and give you a dose of good old fashioned hospitality to keep you coming back like the rest of us!   In Raleigh the all time favorite since 1931 is 42nd St. Oyster Bar   I remember going as a child before or after NC State games.  During my college years 42nd St. was a favorite place to hear a good band!  The fabulous food, live music and the history make it a treat to visit this Capital City landmark!

                                                

Another Carolina Style favorite is in Williamston, North Carolina. Sunnyside Oyster Bar was established in 1935.  The memories here are some of my best!  Huge groups of friends from all over Eastern NC, meeting over the Holiday's is a wonderful tradition!  Sunnyside is listed on the North Carolina Historical Register.

Proudly featured in Southern Living, Gourmet, Metro Magazine and the
WRAL Tarheel Traveler. 
                                    

http://www.sunnysideoysterbarnc.com/sunny_side_in_the_press



Here on the Crystal Coast we highly recommend T and W Oyster Bar in Swansboro NC "The friendly City by the Sea"  The fireplace is cozy!  See if you can survive the Rooster!

The Rooster

Mark your calender for the third weekend in October every year! 
The NC Oyster Festival kicks off the season. Ocean Isle Beach NC has hosted the festival for 30 years. Oysters and Shagging to Carolina beach music is the perfect combination!

30th Annual NC Oyster Festival Art Print by Keith White. There are only 100 prints of this amazing piece of artwork. Call the Chamber today to purchase yours for only $20! 910-754-6644 ext. 0. Art size is 12 x 18.

Enjoy Your Day, Carolina Style!  Jen Jen