Oysters. Yum.

no, we don't usually eat oysters here (mussels yes, but not oysters).

MarkKurlansky discusses the history of oysters and shellfish, which apparantly were common in the NYC area before pollution.




but the real test is to eat a raw oyster. Sort of the American equivalent of eating Balut, and for the same reason: (they are supposed to be aphrodesiac).

from the book: Oysters and Fish (at Project Gutenberg).

How to eat a Raw Oyster.—Avoid as much as possible the use of condiments, when20 eating oysters. They were never intended as an accompaniment of the oyster, and are only used by country people. A suspicion of lemon; a dash of salt when the dealer has kept them covered with cracked ice, and the descending ice-water washed out all sea flavor; and, for palates grown callous, a dash of cayenne. Such abominations as ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, etc., should never be used. Do not bolt the oyster, but masticate it; and one will soon learn to tell the different oysters by their different flavors. By bolting them, one will never know how to thoroughly appreciate them.

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