You like your oysters super salty but not too sweet? Perhaps you prefer a creamy flavor with just a hint of salt? Like a quick finish? A sweet finish? Virginia oysters reflect their merroir or the climatic conditions of where they’re harvested. The flavors are subtle but indeed distinct depending on what part of the… Continue reading Virginia Oysters: A Taste for Everyone

While YROC (York River Oyster Company) Coastal Bar and Grill has been around Gloucester, Virginia for quite some time, it was Bryce Moretti who gave it fresh life. Reimagined in 2020 by Bryce, it’s since been the buzz of the town (and the only waterfront dining experience in the coastal Gloucester county. Quite frankly, it’s… Continue reading Oyster Gumbo with Gumbo Filé

If you’ve ever been to a seafood festival of any type, chances are you’ve had some clam fritters. But did you know how easy it is to make them authentically at home? Shirley Hogge of Bena, Virginia shows us how below. This recipe is a Southern Seafood Classic! WHAT YOU’LL NEED WHAT YOU’LL DO Mix… Continue reading Larpin’ Good Clam Fritters

We’re just going to leave this right here, the family clam chowder recipe from Shirley Hogge’s Daddy, William West. WHAT YOU’LL NEED WHAT YOU’LL DO Boil the potatoes and onions in clam juice mixed with water. Cook until tender. Once tender add clams. Fry pour grease and diced pork into soup. Salt and pepper to… Continue reading William West’s Clam Chowder

Shirley Hogge dipped into the family recipe box to share this one: Mom’s Oyster Stew. You can’t find a better comfort food recipe – or an easier one! WHAT YOU’LL NEED WHAT YOU’LL DO Heat the milk, butter and some oyster juice to almost boiling. Drop the oysters in (they will curl). Heat a few… Continue reading Mom’s Oyster Stew

Is there anything better than a casserole? How about a casserole featuring oysters? This one comes to us courtesy of Shirley Hogge, a long-time lover of Bena, Virginia who grew up catching dinner in her own backyard (which she still does to this day). Enjoy this recipe from her family files: Amos’ Oyster Casserole. Try… Continue reading Amos’ Oyster Casserole

Shirley Hogge knows a thing or two about cooking seafood. A Gloucester native and longtime Bena resident, Shirley loves and respects the water like no other. How can you not be when you grew up catching dinner from your backyard? Her passion for cooking fresh seafood is in her blood, and one she credits to… Continue reading Daddy’s Fried Oysters

Salt and pepper. Beer and barbecue. Add wine and oysters to that. Maybe you’ve eaten wine and oysters at the same time, but have you paired them together? Jon Mills, vintner at Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek, enjoys pairing the two for a variety of delicious reasons, including the fact that dependent on the oyster… Continue reading Wine and Oysters: Pairing What Grows Together at Chatham Creek Vineyards

Surrounded by water, The Island House Restaurant & Marina on the Eastern Shore features seafood so fresh they don’t overpower it with extra ingredients and fillers. They strive to stay true to local recipes they inherited and shared two longtime customer favorites with AquaCultured. And of course they feature oysters and clams! Oysters Paramore pairs… Continue reading Bring Home a Taste of The Island House by Making These Recipe Faves

It’s May-June-July-August and you love oysters yet you’re waiting until September to devour your favorite seafood. Why? You can eat oysters year-round (and should. They’re not only good. They’re great for you thanks to all the nutrients in them). It’s hard to discredit myths that are nothing but old fish tales, but here we go.… Continue reading We R Sure It’s Safe to Eat Oysters Every Day of the Year