The Annual Oyster Cook-Off & Craft Beer Weekend in Alabama

Save the date and make your plans now to attend the 2017 Oyster Cook-Off & Craft Beer Weekend in Gulf Shores, AL during November 3&4, 2017. 

This year's lineup features notable Southern chefs including: 

• Cory Bahr (Next Food Network Star)
• Martie Duncan (Next Food Network Star)
• Rob McDaniel (5x James Beard Award nominee)
• Adam Evans (Esquire’s #1 Best New Restaurant)
• Derek Emerson (3x James Beard Award nominee)

And, that's just to name a few. Additional chefs will be announced throughout the summer at www.hangoutcookoff.com.

This annual Cook-Off is one of the country’s premier culinary events, where fans can taste oysters prepared by some of the South’s best restaurants and chefs. Want to learn some tips for the kitchen? Celebrities and James Beard Award winning chefs will be demonstrating recipes and cooking techniques. 

Tickets for this celebration of food and drink are on sale now at www.hangoutcookoff.com. 

Sample over 100 oyster recipes or indulge in the largest curated selection of farmed oysters from all over North America. 

Numerous James Beard Award winners and nominees will be on-hand including chefs Rob McDaniel (SpringHouse), Derek Emerson (Walker’s Drive-In), Brian Canipelli (Cucina 24), and Erik Niel (Easy Bistro & Bar). The Chef Demo stage is hosted by Alabama’s very own Food Network Star, Martie Duncan and features other television favorites including Cory Bahr (Food Network Star). 

A selection of craft cocktails, Bloody Mary’s, Champagne and craft beer will be available to wash it all down. 

The Cook-Off will also feature the “Best Tasting Tailgate” for fans to watch SEC Football games on big screen TV’s. 

One of this year’s highlights is an appearance by country music star CAM Saturday afternoon, included with Cook-Off admission. 

The weekend begins with Craft Beer Friday featuring tastings from upwards of 20 craft breweries and live music to be announced. 

Workshops and Food Demonstrations Will Feature:

• Martie Duncan (Food Network Star) 
• Cory Bahr (Food Network Star)
• Adam Evans (Esquire’s #1 Best New Restaurant)
• Rob McDaniel (5x James Beard Award Nominee)

Featured Restaurants 

The Cook-Off will feature chefs competing for cash and prizes. Each restaurant will be serving up Rockefeller, Gulf Coast Cajun and Raw Oysters for everyone to taste. 

Participating restaurants and chefs include: 

 

• Pete Blohme of Panini Pete’s (Guy’s Grocery Games)
• David Crews of Six Shooter Land and Timber (2013 King of American Seafood; Cleveland, MS)
• Erik Niel of Easy Bistro (James Beard Award Semifinalist; Chattanooga, TN)
• Kimball House (Southern Living’s 2014 Best New Restaurant; Decatur, GA)
• Walker’s Drive-In (Jackson, MS)
• Ole Biloxi Fillin Station (Biloxi, MS)
• Beach House Kitchen (Gulf Shores, AL)
• Local 463 Urban Kitchen (Jackson, MS)
• OK Bicycle Shop (Mobile, AL)
• Driftwood Bar and Grille (Orange Beach, AL)
• Guerrilla Gourmet (Victoria, TX)
• Voyagers - Perdido Beach Resort (Orange Beach, AL)
• Half Shell Oyster House (Biloxi, MS)
• Smoke Ring BBQ (Atlanta, GA)
• Restaurant Tyler (Starkville, MS)
• ByWater Bistro (Gulf Shores, AL)
• Restaurant Iron (Pensacola, FL)
• Hey Joe’s (Cleveland, MS)
• Desporte (Biloxi, MS)
• Crabs on the Beach (Pensacola, FL)
• The Coast Restaurant (Gulf Shores, AL)
• The Hangout (Gulf Shores, AL)
• The Gulf (Orange Beach, AL and Okaloosa Island, FL)

Chefs, talent and bands subject to change. 

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.HangoutCookoff.com

For more information contact Jessica Downs at Jessica@hangoutmusicfest.com or (251) 202-9802 and her know your friends at Go Shuck An Oyster.com sent you. 

Books About Oysters Make Great Gifts

If you know someone who likes oysters or likes to learn about oysters and Rowan Jacobsen writes a new book, there is only one thing to do - purchase his book!

Recently released, The Essential Oyster: A Salty Appreciation of Taste and Temptation is now available in hard copy and for the kindle.

To date, all of the reviews on Amazon are positive and why shouldn't they be? There are not many authors on the topic of oysters better than Rowan Jacobsen. Oyster lovers know about his books including my two favorites about oysters:

1.  A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur's Guide to Oyster Eating in North America, a must read!

2.  The Living Shore: Rediscovering a Lost World.

These three books make great gifts for yourself, your friends, and family members.

Halifax Oyster Festival

The second annual Halifax Oyster Festival a premier oyster event in Halifax, Nova Scotia will take place on September 29 & 30, 2017.

The third annual Halifax Oyster Festival is back on the Halifax waterfront offering the unique convergence of Maritime sea and land terriors.

3-hour sessions include:

• All-you-can-slurp raw oysters
• Greeting sample of Benjamin Bridge's Nova 7 sparkling wine
• A selection of chowder, lobster rolls and mussels to purchase
• Wine, craft beer, cider, Caesars samples to purchase (More stations than last year!)
• Shuck N' Learn station
• 3rd annual Nova Scotia Oyster Shucking Competition
• 
  



Photo credit: Lenny Mullins

• Select Nova Scotia Store to purchase packaged oysters, wine and oyster paraphanelia to take home

Children under 12 are free, strollers are strongly discouraged.

Children under 19 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. 

More information at oysterfest.ca

Halifax Oyster Festival is produced by The Coast, Halifax's weekly newspaper.

Video by Meghan Tansey Whitton

Need a great new oyster knife? For under $15.00, try the Shucker Paddy in black or yellow.

A Recap of The Duxbury Oyster Festival at The Winsor House Inn

By Marci Bracken

The Duxbury Oyster Festival has been a well-anticipated, popular event in this beach side community and this year did not fall short of any expectations. In its third year being held at The Winsor House Inn, this sold out event took place on May 15, 2016 and provided all-you-can- eat oysters, burgers and hot dogs, live music, day drinking and a ton of laughs. Not only is The Duxbury Oyster Festival delicious and fun, it is also a wonderful fundraiser for The Duxbury Student Union. This event provides a wonderful connection of local companies supporting their local school system and students.

Oyster farmers sampling included Island Creek Oysters, Snug Harbor Oysters, Sweet Sounds Oysters, Duxbury Oyster Company, Standish Shore Oyster and more…there was no shortage of oyster to be found! All fresh and delicious!

Upon arrival, the frenzy to try them all began. The oysters were overflowing from every direction. Each oyster farmer was generous with his or her sampling and it seemed as if there was an endless supply of the delicacy.

The Winsor House Inn truly did this event right. The staff was friendly and attentive, the tented area was the perfect size to house the crowd and there was even an inside area that hosted a great silent auction.

As we indulged, we were entertained by student musicians and student bands courtesy of the Duxbury Student Union. This was a wonderful way to connect the event to the fundraising. The student talent was amazing. As the afternoon rolled on and the cocktails set in The Waves took to the stage to get the party really going.

With stomachs full of amazing, fresh oysters, shoes came off and the dancing began.

Overall this was a wonderful event in support of a great cause…with GREAT oysters!

We look forward to returning again next year and encourage you to attend and also support the students and oyster farmers.

Need a new oyster shucking glove? Please protect your hand when opening oysters! Try this highly rated oyster glove: