Isak Dinesen once wrote, “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea”. Besides penning the novel, which later, was adapted into my all-time favorite movie, I’m convinced she not only was referring to the healing powers of the salty sea, but to the bewitching, briny, exquisite creatures laying well below it. One slurp of these babies and, Yowza!! Senses are amplified—you’re suddenly more awake, more ALIVE. Cold is colder, sweet is sweeter, and happy is happier. Yep, I’m talkin’ about oysters. Like stinky cheeses, brussels sprouts, or fish sauce —there’s no middle ground when it comes to oysters. Either you love ’em, or you hate ’em.
I, for one, am solidly in the L-O-V-E camp. My love is unflinching for my oh-so-slurpable friends. A devout oyster purist, I am. I don’t want them gussied up with butter, cheese, garlic, bread crumbs, parsley, salt or pepper. I don’t want them baked, barbecued, broiled, roasted, steamed, smoked or fried. I don’t want them to go by fancy-pants names, like Rockefeller, or goofy ones, like Bingo. Oysters are like kisses from the sea, and I want my kisses one, and only one way: Raw, on the half shell, with a quick squirt of fresh lemon and a small smattering of Hog Wash Mignonette. Forget hush money, promise me a few dozen Kumamotos and I’m your girl.
Admittedly, I developed my oyster crush late in life. It wasn’t until my first year out of college did I have my first encounter. And to be honest, I was pretty nervous. Palm-sweating-nervous. I was living in Chicago, out at my favorite sushi joint, minding my own business, when two oyster shooters arrived at the table. Staring at the tallish shot glasses, I debated whether to “accidentally” knock mine onto the floor, dart out the back door to hail a taxi, or turn myself invisible. Instead, I closed my eyes, held my nose and the rest, as they say, is history.
Oysters have a reputation for only performing on ‘special’ occasions. Anniversaries, birthdays, weddings and the like. They’re often members of the forgettable opening act and seldom, if ever, the main headliner, the Lady Gaga—the one you really came to see. But luckily, we now live less than an hour’s drive from beautiful Tomales Bay, the epi-center of all things slurpy, salty and wonderful, where fresh local oysters, at dirt cheap prices (the Dungeness Crab ain’t so shabby either) are served up in a small, nondescript shack just off Hwy 1, turning any ordinary Saturday morning into the most special of special occasions. The kind when you’re celebrating nothing at all. Here, oysters are always the main headliner, and any ordinary Saturday morning turns into a delectabale, salty cure for anything.
I think Miss Dinesen would agree.
My goodness, you have outdone yourself with these photographs. I can’t stop looking.
Well, you have successfully given me a strong craving for oysters- I love them! Your photos are so beautiful, as always! I was so happy to see your post pop up in my reader- always a great read :)
A beautiful post! Your photography is amazing. Dare I ask what your secret is?
Such lovely photos- I am swooning over them!
I’ve missed your pictures! Keep ’em coming!
Aw, I want a plate of oysters now! Your photos are gorgeous– the light is so beautiful.
And the Dineson quote is perfect.
Amazing pictures! Candy for the eyes.
Cheers,
Rosa
Awesome shots! I was just there to shoot the scenery (live in Novato) and did the drive to the Elk preserve and the lighthouse and other beaches. Now I have to go back this week and eat better than I did Thursday. Thanks for the post and pics!
I love your blog! Your photos are beautiful Just did a post on a Catalan seaside supper, would love you to check my blog. http://conkerandindigo.wordpress.com
Amazing photos!
Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Thank you so much. The brightest moment of escape in my day thus far. I thank you.
Beautiful pictures! It makes me want to go out East and eat some seafood :)
Yes, your pix make me want to eat the landscape along with the food. And Y.E.S. to oysters. Do you know about the Puget Sound Restoration Fund? they do a CSA for oysters, right here on the rock, and we get regular deliveries of the tiny beauties; in fact the first one is next week. There is a small oyster cult who pool ours into a moveable feast every month. We like ’em iced raw, and hot and spicy. My favorite topping is freshly grated horseradish mixed with a great vinegar. Be still my heart.
good lord. My family is renting a house in Dillon Beach this summer, and this post just dangerously amped up the excitement factor by, like, a million. Eating oysters is definitely on our to-do list! I’m actually on middle ground with oysters, though — certainly don’t hate them, but still don’t see what all the fuss is about (I’ve even had the good stuff, raw with a splash of lemon, at Half Moon Bay and tried to fall in love, I swear!). But I will continue to search for love in the form of the oyster because I know it’s out there. Gorgeous post!
Gosh! Now I want seafood more than ever. And sun. And playa. And take beautiful pictures! You never cease to amaze me!!
So nice to hear from you! Looking at your pictures is like taking a vacation. Just gorgeous. My first time with oysters, I found them a bit tasteless, but this post is telling me to give them another chance :)
My fiancée and I fell in love with oysters the first time we ate a fresh dozen in southern Alabama. Since then we’ve had them various times in NW Florida and SE Texas, but never out west. Ours are almost always served with a lemon wedge, horseradish and cocktail sauce, which is nice, just not all the time. I love that there are so many go-withs for yours, especially that herby oil. Hope to try those some day!
Cheers,
*Heather*
Wow, I don’t know why I thought you lived on the East coast. You are in my neck of the woods! I love your photographs. I’m undecided when it comes to oysters, but at least I know where to get them now.
How lucky you are to be so close to Tomales Bay! I love oysters as well, simply served as you mentioned with just a squeeze of lemon. Pacific oysters are by far my favorite in the states.
I’m in love with all of your shots, they’re fantastic. Looks like you had a wonderful time at Tomales Bay. :)
I love them all, stinky cheeses, brussels sprouts, fish sauce, and oysters (especially Tomales Bay oysters eaten while looking out onto Tomales Bay). Great photographs.
Beautiful photos – and great impetus for a day trip!
Amazing photos! And I am totally with you on the whole oyster thing. I only had my first one a year or two ago but I absolutely loved it and never looked back. I live near Tomales Bay and yet have never been to the Oyster Bar… that has to be rectified soon!
Love the photos but now I need an oyster fix. The slurpy goodness has me eating at least a dozen or two in a sitting. The extra needed is a cold beer or a Bloody Maria (tequilla is so much tastier thatn vodka) YUM!
Getting seriously excited for this weekend’s trip out to either Hog Island or Tomales Bay Oyster Company. Thanks for the renewed inspiration.
Wow, your pictures are fantastic. Really gorgeous.
Years ago, when it was much funkier, a group of us went out to Hog Island and had oysters, grilled boudin blanc and drank loads of Sancerre. By 3pm we decided it would be a brilliant idea to go swimming (in the buff) in the water. We all stripped down and went out into the water, only to discover it was very cold, muddy and shallow. A group of kayakers went by and I think we made their day. Now skinny dipping, oysters and grilled boudin are forever linked in my mind.
Such gorgeous photos!
Incredible photos that have me seriously craving some oysters right now. I’m also in the oyster love camp! Great post!
These photos are gorgeous, and so is the food and location. You have me wishing I was there right this instant!
These photographs are amazing and are making me want to take a trip to visit this beautiful coast!
LOVE oysters. LOVE this shoot. I want to go with you next time hehe
WOW, stunning shots. absolutely stunning. Pitch perfect composition as usual!
Absolutely beautiful. This transports me right there with you! You definitely ignite that travel longing in me. So beautiful. Thank you =)
Unbelievable photographs!!!
Beautiful set of pictures, I am in love! Such a wonderful place, want to pack my suitcases already!! :)
I was only introduced to oysters when I first came to Australia. I haven’t quite learned to love them, but I find them utterly fascinating! Love the landscapes in your photos – beautiful!
I do love oysters served just about any way, but beautiful, fresh, raw oysters are hard to beat. I’d like to visit the area just for the oysters, and your photos are convincing me I should.
I’ve never seen Out of Africa.
I am certain I must correct this error.
Lovely, so lovely, as always.
xo,
Molly
Great post! Are you from the area? I live in the north bay, Healdsburg to be exact. :)
Oh what gorgeous images! I came across your site via A Quest for Culture. The Miss Dinesen quote is my favourite (I chose it recently for the new tagline in my blog which is about to get a makeover). I absolutely love your photography. I’ve put you on my daily blog rounds :)
my first visit to your stunning blog and this post has given me such pangs of longing. I spent time, a few years ago, with great friends in a little boathouse on Tomales Bay–and there learned to kayak. our meals, made from what was fresh caught from the Bay, and its mouth, were some of my finest.
many thanks for triggering these memories!
Out of Africa has been a long-time favorite movie of mine as well.
I’m a relatively new oyster convert, but I have to admit, I loved them warmed on the grill. We drove up to Tomales Bay last weekend and stopped at the Tomales Bay Oyster Co to grab a dozen to bring home. Amazing. I can’t wait to head up there again, and next time we’ll have to check out The Marshall Store.
What a FABULOUS article. I grew up on fried oysters snuggled in hot french bread in Louisiana. It wasn’t until I was out of college also that I ate them raw. No problem. Loved them. I enjoyed your photo tour!
OMG I was just here on my honeymoon last September. Your photos do it justice – and I want to go back right now! One of the best places on earth!
your photos are just beautiful. so real and warm. youre so lucky that you live close to a body of water. i am a big oyster fan as well, but i am a bit of a purist and like them w just a squeeze of lemon, if that. and i love Karen Blixen as much as you do- i spent a large chunk of my childhood in Nairobi, and my school, Hillcrest, was in Karen, her eponymous town. x shayma
Totally agree, being a surfer I love the sea and when you feel a bit blue a good pounding by the waves puts everything right again. I also like you came to oysters later in life and adore them…maybe one day you van come to NZ and try our bluff oysters?
Those photos are gorgeous. And oysters are my all-favourite seafood. I want to take a train to the seaside and stuff my face with them right now! Ps. Normandy is the chief oyster-cultivating region in France.
I just want to say, i’m grateful to stumble upon your blog. Your soulful photos, beautifully captured, brought me many nostalgic memories of me and my ex boyfriend. I recalled a time when we went oystering and were so happy then.
Like Isak Dinesen puts it, The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Keep going,
love, wenn.
I love this story … the pictures are truly beautiful and it’s lovely to see how you put everything together visually. You must have a graphic design background :-). I like how you shoot both horizontal and vertical, repeat images, include details [that are so easily overlooked], try another perspective … really wonderful and inspiring. Thank you for sharing … . Best, Sofie