Oysters on the Half Shell......Love or Hate Relationship with them.

Oysters of the Half Shell - Picture of a plate of oysters on the half shell and lemon slices
@gifana (4833)
Portugal
November 19, 2006 11:32am CST
In the beginning there was this slimy mass that was nausating. However, once I got up the nerve to try em I fell in love with them.. I like them with lemon juice and Tabasco sauce. Spent Christmas in Paris one year where it is a tradition raw oysters and choclates (in the form of oysters). Wow, I was in heavan for three days. Among three of us we ate our 15 kilos or oysters and God only how many of choclates.
4 people like this
11 responses
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
5 Jan 07
Fresh oysters are just the very best thing gifana and I could eat them forever. Actually my husband bought me some on our way home from our last big trip. We were at Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, so that night I had fresh oysters and left the steak for the others in our group. They were still in the shells and my husband had to open them for me, but it was well worth the wait while he did it. I ate them fresh with just a dash of lemon juice. Oh did I tell you that I had 3 dozen of these delicious little things. The worst thing was that we moved on the following day and the next place we stopped at, they were twice as dear but he still got me another dozen that day too. :) My husband doesn't eat oysters at all but luckily our son wasn't with us or I would not have had any.
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
6 Jan 07
Thanks for that wonderful piece of information gifana and now if anyone tells me that have had french oysters I can tell them that in fact they were originally from Portugal. Aah the French. :)
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@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
5 Jan 07
My mouth is watering. They have oysters here but I am hesitant to eat them as the Sado River is still quite polluted. They say they are safe but I am a coward. Did you know that the famous oysters on the southern coast of France originally came from Portugal. It's true. During a violent storm a ship carrying tons of oysters went down not far from the coast of France with all oysters on board and became embedded there....thus french oysters. There, you learned something new today so today isn't lost.
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@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
6 Jan 07
I doubt very much that you would get a Frenchman to admit it though.
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
23 Nov 06
I never could keep a raw oyster down, and I have tried. I used to shuck oysters for my first hubby and my son, then fix fried shrimp for my daughter and myself. My son could eat 2 dozen raw oysters when he was 2 years old, and he still loves them. I didn't even like them fried or in stew, and I fixed them like that for hubby and son for many years also. So, I'll pass on oysters. That leaves more of them for you and my son...LOL.
2 people like this
• United States
10 Mar 07
I'm sure they'd agree with you, gifana. I had to try them when all of my friends were having them, but as I said, I just couldn't keep them down...LOL. Thanks for the best response.
1 person likes this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
23 Nov 06
Right you are....thanks for your generosity. Well at least you have tried them....so I can't fault you. Your 1st hubbie and son, I might add, have good taste. Thanks for response.
1 person likes this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
15 Mar 07
You're welcome. As I said, means more for me and all the other oyster lovers.
• Netherlands
7 Jan 07
I can not get enough of raw oysters. I also love to put lemon juice and hot sauce on them. I prefer the super hot sauce that I buy from Louisiana online. It is the hottest sauces and I just can't get enough. :)
1 person likes this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
7 Jan 07
Way to go.....I found another one. I like em with lemon and Tabasco....also from Louisiano I believe. I have to put lots of tabasco to make them sufficient hot so I am always running of it. They have a hot sauce here in Portugal that can be hotter than tabasco but the flavor is not as palatable. Unfortunately as I said previously I have rather afraid to eat the local ones and the imported ones are too expensive for my pension, plus I didn't win the lottery this week. When I do I will definitely find me a place where I can eat them without worrying. Maybe Paris at Christmas time when it is a tradition. Thanks for accompanying me on the wonderful journey of raw oysters. But you made my mouth water. If it were't 4am I would really be hurting.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Dec 06
I am not sure I could swallow these little buggers. My grandma would make oyster stew and I thought it smelled awful!!! She offered me some and I couldn't get it past my lips.
• United States
6 Jan 07
I do love steamed clams. They are so good.
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
2 Dec 06
Oh what a shame. Oyster is one of my favorites. It was of the things we ate a lot of during WWII when meat was rationed. I didn't have a problem because I used to eat raw quohawgs (large clams) when I was a kid. So when I first had a chance at the oysters it wasn't so bad. Appreciate your input. tnx
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@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
2 Dec 06
oops oyster stew is one of my favorites.
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• United States
19 Nov 06
Some years ago I had a Customer that was very happy with the way he was treated in our dealership. He wanted to buy me dinner and was excited because he and his wife were going to take me to there favorite seafood resturant.They ordered a huge tray of Oysters. Yuck! I felt bad but I just didn't like them.
2 people like this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
19 Nov 06
If you tried 'em and didn't like 'em your forgiven...but if you didn't you don't know what you missed. Thanks for response.
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
20 Nov 06
LOL. Oh well, if I can't convince you I'll just let sleeping dogs lie (no offense intended just an expression).
• United States
20 Nov 06
I tried them :-( It's a good thing, I leave more for the people that do enjoy them
1 person likes this
@dhouston (417)
• United States
18 Jan 07
Here in Philadelphia, raw oysters are one of the major food groups, and we have oyster bars where you can eat them by the plateful. I *love* them and would not be able to live without them. When my teenage niece comes up for a visit, I always take her to one of my favorite oyster bars and we pig out on them together.
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@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
18 Jan 07
First time I have about oyster bars outside of New Orleans. Maybe I should live in Philadelphia....although I'm not too sure the city would be big enough for doubleB66 and I. Will have to check with him before I decide. Always nice to see someone else who has, what I consider, good taste. Next time you enjoy them think of me with the drool running down my chin to my boot tops. Thanks so much for your input. Have a nice day.
1 person likes this
• India
23 Nov 06
never had them.....wld like to try
1 person likes this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
23 Nov 06
Well, I hope you have the chance some day. They are not what you might call a popular foodstuff so it isnt always easy to find them. If the sight turns you off, close your eyes and think your eating them stuffed....it might help. thank you for response.
• United States
1 Dec 06
same experience for me, I just had some for lunch!
1 person likes this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
2 Dec 06
Sure wish I had been there to enjoy them with you. Thanks for dropping by.
@aimee750 (1116)
• United States
6 Jan 07
Oh my gosh, my Dad used to love oysters. They looked so disqusting I could never try one. Sorry
1 person likes this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
6 Jan 07
That's par for the course it would seem. I am fortunate I am willing to try anything once....even in a small amount. I must say the only thing I couldn't swallow was what the Vietnamese call (after the Chinese) is a 100 year old egg. It was yellow and black and lord only knows what else. I got it into my mouth but it went from there into my napkin and then into my pocket. Would you believe I also ate fried milk in a Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong. I didn't believe it either....at least I tried it but I can't say that I would order it again. I can't even described what it tasted like but it sure wasn't milk altho it was milky white.
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@RAMPersona (2033)
• Philippines
19 Nov 06
you're making me starve too early in the morning. stop it! so unlucky, haven't tried it.
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@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
19 Nov 06
Oysters of the Half Shell - Picture of oysters on the half shell with lemons
I can't promise you that you will like them as lots of people don't but you'll never know what you are missing if you don't try it. Thanks for responding.
• United States
6 Jan 07
I am not into oysters...too slimy for me. My grandmother loved the lil buggers. She had them all the time and tried her best to get me to sample them. I couldn't get past the gray mass of yuck. She even made oyster stew. The stuff made me gag. She would make a big pot of it. My brother loved the stuff and they would share it whenever she made it. Not for me.
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@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
6 Jan 07
Your grandmother and brother have excellent taste buds. I think you would be surprised if you ever tasted them. I suppose you hate clams too. Always nice to see you.