I LOVE seafood! All seafood — shrimp, crab, fish, muscles, conch, scallops — the list goes on and on. We eat seafood so much; my one-year-old daughter’s favorite food is shrimp! Whether we are looking to dine out or cook a seafood feast at home, I want the freshest we can get.
So, when it comes to eating oysters, I always follow the 400+ year-old rule of thumb: Only eat oysters in months that contain an “R.”
This rule dates back to the 1500s before refrigeration was available and oysters could spoil quickly. It also goes alongside the creature’s reproductive cycle. Oysters spawn in the warm summer months, usually May through August, causing them to be more fatty, watery, and less flavorful. But oysters shucked in the colder months are leaner with a more briny flavor. While the “r” rule is not as relevant in today’s modern food environment, I believe it still stands true when looking for the tastiest oysters.
If you too are an oyster lover or want to try them out for the first time, check out the most divine oysters from some of our favorite Chattanooga spots:
Easy Bistro & Bar – Raw Oysters (they offer oysters from different locations, and you can’t go wrong with any of them.)
Frazier Five & Dime – Fried Oyster Salad
STIR – Oysters Rockefeller
Boathouse Rotisserie & Raw Bar – Chesapeake Raw Oysters
Scottie’s on the River – Oysters Bienville
1885 Grill Ooltewah – Fried Oysters
