Oysters safe to eat?
 

We wanted to try Moran's Oyster pub near Galways in late July- safe to eat then??

If they wince when you squeeze lemon juice on them then they are safe to eat. Never chew an oyster you swallow them whole.

I'm guessing this question relates to the adage to only eat oysters in months with an "R", otherwise they are not safe due to bacteria levels from a warmer season. I have no idea if this logical-sounding adage applies to the waters around Ireland, if that is even where the oysters come from.

If they serve them to you, they're safe to eat.

I think most places have a restaurant famous for their oysters and that is one of the things that makes them famous-safe! Here in Boston, we have legal Sea Foods. The owner has his own. microbiologist that checks what's served for safty. I've been eating oysters there for many years.

Where Huitres ? She is an expert oysterphile !

St Cirq hit it on the head! If you haven't noticed, the locals live there!

Anyone that would imply that Legal Sea Foods is the definitive oyster house in Boston doesn't know Boston or oysters. I mean, for God's sake, Legal is a chain-has branches at DCA in Washington, at Logan-and other places-the oysters are okay but they are HARDLY what represents the best in oyster houses in Boston!

No, if you are looking for the truely authentic, definitive oyster experience in Boston, there's only one-that would be Union Oyster House- oldest restaurant in continuous operation in the US-dating from early 1800's. Now THERE they serve some oysters! Even Daniel Webster himself would go there several times a week to slurp up his daily ration along with a tumbler of brandy. I've never had better.

It does not matter that they are a chain. I was going to the union oyster house most likely before you were born. I still go there but it's more the experience like going to the Procope in paris. I'll bike over there to sit at the bar and enjoy talking to the tourists. I'm an oyster fan and seek out places wherever i go.

"like the Procope in Paris" utterly absurd statement!

"it doesn't matter if it's a chain restaurant" No, of course it doesn't, Cigale, honey. A lot of people like chain seafood restaurants, and there's nothing wrong with them. I mean, for that matter, you can get a good oyster at Red Lobster, no? (smile)

listen, sweetie, it's not like a red lobster, a chain we do not have here. Legal started in my neighborhood, one restaurant with fresh seafood and grew later but, growth do not diminish the FRESH FOOD. Legal is noy sophisticated seafood, I';ll go to NYC to Bernadin's for that. BUT you will get as fresh as possible. They have their own boats.

I just hope one of you doesn't call the other an idiot over an oyster. ((a)) ((b))

Wow! ....have their own boats. now, where are we? Boston? I mean, I DON'T allege to live there and can think of at least two waterside seafood restaurants downtown that have their own boats-sheesh! If that represents the best in your recommendations for oysters, God knows where you'd steer people to for other gourmet delights!

Air you are only looking for a dispute, I know my restaurants and fresh foods in my own town. You believe what you want.This is a travel forum not an up-one-ship.

Budman-you've finally made me chuckle! and it was the broken heart that did it!

Later-gots to speechify in London next week-, flanneruk, are you listening? you'd sure like to hear what I have to say!

My family and I stopped at the Legal Seafood at Logan Airport and were pleasently surprised at the quality of the food. The oyster were very fresh and the famed chowder was up to the praise that the press gives it. But back to Paris, I'd say that the oysters at La Marée and Prunier's were superb.

I have a son in Boston who swears by Legal and yes, he has taken me to the Union old house for oysters, fun and historical but as my son says, not a place to meet the townies. It is the oldest restaurant in Boston and that is why cigale compares it to Procope, the oldest in Paris.

To answer your question, I believe the water is cold enough not to be a problem with the oyster harvest in Ireland.

I've always wanted to go to Moran's Oyster pub, especially during the oyster festival.

http://www.moransoystercottage.com/ ((b))

thanks for the url, Budman, it sounds like a place, I'd love.

joannapv, after all that spat and spit I venture a partial answer to your question at the risk of being toasted by the oyster queens.

I have never been to Moran's but in my experience, an oyster is safe unless it is sweet. You'll know immediately so spit it out if it is off. Ask for a replacement.

One of the cases of food poisoning I had in Europe was from a dish of coquilles St. Jacques in France. It came up and was a mess that night in my hotel bathroom, followed by a miserable couple of days getting over it.

Contrary to m kingdom2, I swirl them around in my mouth and rush them through my teeth. Enjoy that flavor for as long as you can. Rinse with chilled neat vodka.

Now I come from a place where there are excellent rock oysters. With oysters I simply go by smell as I do with mussles. Hmm .. Two months ago I went to Legal Seafoods Copley Centre and Skipjacks in Boston. I thought Legal was a fairly high standard for a chain and probably better overall for both mixed oysters and the stuffed lobster compared to a similar meal at Skipjack. The story of Legal is quite interesting. It was a bit too cold to venture down to the wharf area at the time but it appears from what some of the locals told me, there must be specialty oyster venues down there. Now just switching back to Europe for a moment, what are the oysters and crustaceans like around the Cinque Terre - Portofino areas of the Ligurian coast ?

I don't like seafood but I have worked in many seafood restaurant in college (even in Boston!)many yeas ago.

I think as a rule the closer to the sea the fresher the seafoos...an oyster place in Kansas would be suspicious to me but Galway....half the county is by the sea and yeas it safe to eat them.

Hi all,

There is another reason why one doesn't eat oysters in months without an R; it's the breeding season.

If you harvest the adult oysters before the new spats have properly set, you will run out of oysters in a relatively short time.

correct ira. the only time not to eat oysters is when there is whats known as a "Red Tide", ask them in the restaurant and they will be able to tell you. I've done my research on you budman, you're quite privee to a bit of advertising yourself! that's according to your beliefs

From "fer" down on the "eastern shore" of Maryland, I learned that Ira is right...that's why the Chessie's aren't harvested from May through August...
I just adore those beauties raw...

Hi

They are available year round here from Etang de Thau.

They are also extremely cheap at between Euro3 - 4 per dozen !

If you picnic at the markets they will even open them for you.

More about it here :

"Bar Patropi, Sommieres : Limited menu, pub food. But recommended for Saturdays (market day). Rather unusual picnic format ! Order drinks, ask for (free) knives and a plate. Then buy food from the surrounding market stalls (seafood, takeaway Asian / Creole food, Bread, Fruit, Cheese). The "oyster man" will open your oysters and arrange them on the plate while you buy the rest of the ingredients. Need to get a table early in summer - say before 12.00. The wine is cheap, as are the oysters."

Peter
The Languedoc Page
http://tlp.netfirms.com

thanks Peter, I've written that down in case we pass nearby . In Brittany, the Belon oysters in Belon at Chez jacki were superb.

WOW i hope you answer my scheduling questions the way you did the oyster question - seriously I adore oysters and have eaten them here, there and every where - however, after going through chemo and a depressed immune system i was a little nervous - I will go for it thought!! Joanna

joannapy, I wish you well and and a future of health improvements. Have a wonderful vacation. Oysters are also farm bred so available all year all over the world.

If you still have a depressed immune system, I'd recommend consulting your doctor on this matter, if you were to become ill from an oyster - it's not such a wonderful experience to suffer for. Hopefully you are full recovered now and will be able to enjoy your Irish holiday with oysters.

Thank you all...I have eaten oysters since the chemo no problem and as suggested they are fresh no problem - Joanna

This was an interesting read, I must say~ How does one manage to insult people over an oyster? utterly absurd, says I~

So does the R in the month really have anything to do with oysters these days? since we can get food from anywhere in the world anytime?

Today, I would eat only raw oysters from the small bays in the Pacific NW (and I live "sometimes" in Dallas) - never from the Gulf (raw), nor MD, and my parents had a house on the Chester River on the Eastern Shore X from Chestertown for many years.
M
PS I'm immunized v. Hep A and B and not immunosupressed.
I have no knowledge of the UK, Ireland and Scotland.

>So does the R in the month really have anything to do with oysters these days? since we can get food from anywhere in the world anytime?<

If you are getting farm-raised oysters it really doesn't matter, except that they don't taste as good as the wild ones.

Thank you, ira :)

I'm on the East Coast in Canada ..Prince Edward Island. Where I am we don't have the problem of red tide. I grew up around oysters and seafood all my life. If you have concerns when your eating at a restaurant anywhere in the world ask if the oysters are from a registered seafood business, when I say this especially in Canada, it means the oysters have been tested by the Canadian food and drug department and if a canadian company is shipping to the USA they must be tested by the USA Food and Drug Dept.
If oysters don't pass inspection, plant gets closed down for a determined amount a time til they meet requirements from govt.
I agree with others if it smells bad it is if its dried out its bad...oysters keep for a couple of months in a fridge or cool storage area.
Oysters always yummy!

We were served raw oysters with our Guinness in the Blue Haven in Kinsale in OctobeR. They slid down quite nicely with no ill after-effects. My husband, who does not care for raw seafood, tried some and lived to tell the tale. We passed by Moran's at the wrong time of day, will have to go back or else go to Boston!