Oysters in Florence at Golden View Open Bar

Oysters in Florence: Golden View Open Bar and the Search for Great Oysters in Italy

By Rand Hoch, Travel Editor

Last New Year’s Eve, my friends Tim, Liz and Katy invited me to join them for part of their extended trip to Italy. They had rented an apartment in Florence, and it quickly became clear this would be the perfect base for exploring the city—and continuing my ongoing search for great oysters.

After all, with so much coastline and so many lakes, I’ve often wondered: why doesn’t Italy produce more great oysters?

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Finding Oysters in Florence

On our first afternoon exploring Florence, Katy and I crossed the Ponte Vecchio and wandered into the Oltrarno district. That’s when we spotted a sign for “Goldenview Open Bar.”

Between the name and the seafood display in the window (complete with oysters), we knew we had found our place.

We returned the next evening and were seated on a terrace overlooking the Arno as the sun set behind the Ponte Vecchio. It was easily one of the best views I’ve experienced in Florence. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The Oyster Experience at Golden View Open Bar

Golden View Open Bar is not strictly an oyster bar, so when we asked about oysters, the waiter brought over a manager to guide us.

They didn’t have Italian oysters that day, but they did offer Fines de Claire oysters from France—widely considered among the best in the world.

At €3.5 each, we were more than happy to begin.

The oysters arrived alongside Champagne, focaccia, lemon, and a light cucumber sauce.

• Fresh and clean flavor
• Subtle hazelnut finish
• Beautiful presentation
• Perfect pairing with Champagne

I typically prefer oysters “naked” to fully appreciate their flavor, but the cucumber sauce was worth trying—once.

What Makes a Great Oyster Experience

Whether you’re in Florence or at home, the best oyster experiences share a few simple elements:

• Fresh oysters
• Minimal but thoughtful accompaniments
• Good tools for shucking
• A relaxed, social atmosphere

Recreate the Experience at Home

While Florence may not be known for oysters, the experience itself is surprisingly easy to recreate anywhere.

Oyster Knife

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Oyster Glove

Adds safety and confidence.

Oyster Shirt

Because the vibe matters.

Final Thoughts

Golden View Open Bar delivered an unforgettable evening—great oysters, incredible views, and a relaxed, elegant atmosphere.

And while Italy may not yet be known for producing its own oysters, it certainly knows how to serve them well.

Start Your Own Oyster Night

Bring a little Florence home with a simple oyster setup.

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London’s Hix Oyster & Chop House

By Rand Hoch, Travel Editor
   

Chef Mark Hix opened his first restaurant – Hix Oyster & Chop House – four years ago.  Since then, he has opened an additional five London restaurants featuring creative British cuisine.

I recently stopped by Hix, located just steps from London’s historic Smithfield Market, to chat with chef Martin Sweeney.  I sat at the marble oyster bar, listening to Martin speak with pride about oysters from the British Isles.


At the outset, he explained that during the months without a “R”, Hix, like all restaurants in the UK, serves only rock (farmed) oysters.  The rest of the year, native oysters are available. 

The more he talked about the oysters at Hix, the more it seemed that Martin had a personal relationship with the oystermen who supplied the restaurant.  When I asked why, he simply responded, “When it comes to oysters, locality is the key.”    

Martin brought over a small platter with three pairs of oysters for us to share.  He pulled me a pint of local beer.


“First, try these rocks from Elbury Cove near Dorset. We get them from a man named Nigel.”

The chunky oyster was great.  Clean, with a bit of a mineral finish.

“Now, for a bit of contrast, try the Cumbrae rock oysters from Scotland’s West Coast.” 

These plump oysters sat deep in their shells.  They tasted nutty and significantly saltier than the Elbury Cove oysters.

My final oyster was from the Camel Estuary on the north coast of Cornwall.  It was massive and meaty, with a slight crunch.  And as it turned out, my favorite of the three offered.



The after work crowd had begun to trickle in, and Martin had to head back to get the evening started.  I’m glad I had the chance to stop by.

Hix Oyster & Chop House

36-37 Greenhill's Rents

Cowcross Street

London, EC1M 6BN, United Kingdom

020 7017 1930

www.hixoysterandchophouse.co.uk/

Island Creek Oysters Foundation - Where the Money Goes

In just about one month I'll enjoy a wonderful evening with my wife and hundreds of other great people at the Island Creek Oysters Foundation Friends for Haiti Benefit, Saturday September 8, 2012 at Duxbury Beach. 

Over the past few months I have mentioned the event to several people and while it does sound like an amazing evening, the price point seems high to some, at first.  

At $250 per ticket, what do you think? Before you answer that, you need not only know what the evening will include, but more importantly, where the money goes.

The Island Creek Oysters Foundation (ICOF) tagline is, "We Believe in Aquaculture".  This is most prominently seen through the Foundation's work in Haiti.  

In 2011, The Clinton Foundation introduced ICOF to Caribbean Harvest in Haiti and the partnership was born. ICOF is the primary funder of their Tilapia Fish Farming Project. For every $2,400 donated to Caribbean Harvest, one Haitian family receives a Tilapia Fish Farming kit along with the training to grow Tilapia in Lake Azeui (central Haiti). The average income for a family in the Lake Azeui region is $350 per year - they live in poverty most of us can't even imagine. The successful Tilapia Fish Farmer will earn up to $3,000 per year, after expenses and even after retaining Tilapia to feed their family.

In 2011, Friends for Haiti raised $100,000 for Caribbean Harvest. In 4 short months, ICOF donations increased fish production by 40,000 pounds of fish! Remarkable. ICOF has a goal of donating $100,000 year to make a significant cultural and economic impact on the Lake Azeui region.

Now, add in what's included at the event:

- Island Creek raw bar 
- passed hors d’oeuvres
- cocktails

- sunset over the Back River
- short plates created by some of the best chefs in the country
- live music
- cigar bar

Did I mention the raw bar?  An Island Creek raw bar?  Gotta love an IC raw bar!!

So, given the $250 doesn't sound like much anymore, go buy a ticket or two online by clicking here. 

Not convinced yet? Watch this:

      Learn more about the Island Creek Oysters Foundation    Follow them on Twitter    Friend them on Facebook