Massachusetts Oyster Project

The spring is here and we have lots going on.

First, we are eagerly awaiting news on our application for a grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (whale tail license plates) as this could be a very helpful source of funds for 2009 efforts. We are tentatively planning to place more oysters in the Charles River estuary and also to initiate a pilot on the Neponset River estuary in conjunction with the Neponset River Watershed Association. We will need to apply for permits once we hear on-or-about May 4.

Second, we are looking forward to a report from divers who will check on the oysters between the North End and Charlestown on a May weekend. This date will be nailed down shortly and we will get it out to you should you want to be there.

Third, we had a terrific meeting with the team at UMass Boston who is very interested in working with us in several capacities. We are excited by this budding relationship and have plans to apply for a grant together.

Fourth, we have an intern who has been assisting MOP in seeking grants and we will be filing for two shortly.

Finally, we have a fun fundraiser coming up at B&G Oysters on May 3. We will have a table set up and will be capitalizing on this fun opportunity to raise our profile. We hope to see you there!

Oyster Invitational
Sunday, May 3rd, 12pm-8pm, rain or shine!
550 Tremont Street
http://bandgoysters.com/

What better way to kick off the summer season and celebrate B&G Oyster’s 5th patio opening than with an oyster extravaganza?
Join us on Sunday, May 3rd for a day filled with friendly (and tasty) competitions, a discerning panel of judges, cold beer and oyster-friendly wines, signature small plates, unlimited oysters, and even appearances by the WORLD’S fastest oyster shucker! Tickets are available by calling (617.423.0550) or visiting B&G Oysters and are $45 per person in advance ($55 day of). Ticket price includes admission, one raffle ticket, two drink tickets, and unlimited oysters along with passed signature dishes & competition dishes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Massachusetts Oyster Project, an organization dedicated to the restoration of oysters to marine estuaries in the Boston area.

The celebration will continue across the street at Stir (102 Waltham Street), where B&G servers and chefs will host "What’s your Oyster Profile?" classes throughout the afternoon. The 45 minute class will explore east coast and west coast varieties and include a sampling of oysters and a glass of wine. Tickets to the class will be available for $40 (or $75 for class plus entrance to the Oyster Invitational) and a spot may be reserved by calling or visiting B&G Oysters. In addition to the classes, author Rowan Jacobsen will be at Stir for an afternoon book signing.

Participants
B&G Oysters
Great Bay
Kingfish Hall
Neptune Oyster
No.9 Park
O Ya
Sel de la Terre
Summer Shack
Toro
Chopper Young, The World’s Fastest Oyster Shucker
Rowan Jacobsen, author of The Geography of Oysters
Island Creek Oysters, Cotuit Oysters, Harpoon Brewery

Schedule of Events

12:30 to 1:15 "Discover Your Oyster Profile" Stir Seminar*: Are you more East Coast or West Coast? B&G servers Heather Kennaway and Mark Simes will guide guests through the ins and outs of East and West Coast oysters complete with a sampling of different varieties and glass of wine.

12:45 Raffle Drawing

1:00 B&G Shuckers Shuck Off!: We’ve been debating and they’ve been training, so who’s the best? Today we find out when B&G’s top-notch team takes on their Chef in the fight for the title of B&G’s fastest shucker and the right to be B&G’s champion in the Oyster Invitational Shucking Finals!

1:15 World’s Fastest Shucker Demo: Our guys are fast but this guy is faster! 37 oysters in 2.5 minutes fast to be exact! William "Chopper’ Young from Wellfleet is the fastest shucker in the world and winner of the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championships and he’s here to demonstrate his shucking prowess.

1:15-2:00 Book Signing at Stir: Meet oyster guru, Rowan Jacobson, author of A Geography of Oysters. This book is a staff favorite and a must-read for any oyster lover.

2:00 World’s Fastest Shucker Demo: William "Chopper" Young demonstrates his unique oyster shucking technique, which has earned him bragging rights as the world’s fastest oyster shucker.

1:30-2:15 Chef’s competition: Best Original Raw presentation

While we all appreciate the sublime simplicity of an icy, unadorned oyster, a little creativity from chefs is always a fun thing to observe (and taste). For this competition, three chefs will think outside of the box and present their most original raw oyster dish.

2:15 to 3:00 Stir Seminar*: We all know that the staff at B&G knows their oysters. But even we get stumped sometimes. When we have a question, there’s one guy we go to: Rowan Jacobson, author of A Geography of Oysters. He knows it all! In this class Rowan will guide guests through different varieties of oysters, East and West Coast, North to South, to help determine their oyster profiles.

2:45 Oyster Company Shuck Off!: Yeah, they grow great oysters, but how fast can they shuck ‘em? Oyster farmers from Island Creek and Cotuit Oyster Company show what they can do with a shucking knife.

3:00 Raffle Drawing

3:15 World’s Fastest Shucker Demo William "Chopper" Young, the world’s fastest oyster shucker shows off his stuff. Be quick, or you might miss it; Chopper can shuck 37 oysters in 2.5 minutes!

3:15 to 4:00 Book signing at Stir: Chat with Rowan Jacobson, author of A Geography of Oysters.

3:30 Invitational Shuck Off! Round 1: Professional oyster shuckers from O Ya, Great Bay and Kingfish Hall face off for a place in the Invitational finals.

4-4:45 Chef’s Competition: Best Riff on a Classic
Oysters on the half shell with mignonette, oyster po’ boys, & oysters Rockefeller are all tried and true classics but in this competition, participating chefs will present their modern take on a favorite, time-honored dish.

5:00 Invitational Shuck Off! Round 2 Neptune Oyster, Summer Shack and No 9 Park have sent us their fastest oyster shuckers to battle it out in our Shuck Off!

5:15 Raffle Drawing

5:30 Shuck Off! Finals! Who’s the fastest of them all? The day’s festivities culminate with this final competition. B&G’s Oyster Shucking champion will take on three challengers in the final Shuck Off of the day!