Where is the best place to buy boxes of Oysters??

[oh009]

Hi everyone

Can anyone recommend any places???

[Jucius Maximus]

Fresh or Frozen?

[oh009]

Fresh!!!

[Jucius Maximus]

Fresh!!!

I bought fresh oysters at T&T and they were GREAT!

... the only catch is that they were not in a box. :lol:

[Wing]

http://www.dianasseafood.com/

It's cheap when you buy a box over 100

[RobDek]

I've seen them offered at Costco but I'm leery about them

[oh009]

Anymore recommendations??

[Jucius Maximus]

If you're intent on getting an actual box, they sometimes have Beausoleil oysters at Loblaws that come by the box.

[Asagiri]

If you're intent on getting an actual box, they sometimes have Beausoleil oysters at Loblaws that come by the box.
Confirmed, Loblaws has Beausoleil Oysters on sale this week for $17.99 a box of 24.

[elton5354]

Confirmed, Loblaws has Beausoleil Oysters on sale this week for $17.99 a box of 24.

Can you eat them raw? :cheesygri

[Jucius Maximus]

Can you eat them raw? :cheesygri

Once you master opening the oysters, it's pretty easy to eat them raw.
I love the "oyster juice" that comes in the shell. Very tasty.

[elton5354]

Once you master opening the oysters, it's pretty easy to eat them raw.
I love the "oyster juice" that comes in the shell. Very tasty.

It's clean enough? =\

[Jucius Maximus]

It's clean enough? =\

Well I scrub them before opening them. I have a very stiff brush for that.
But when you open then, you don't do anything to the inside except slice off the feet that attach them to the shell, and maybe drip in some lemon juice.

You eat them RAW. The inside is not washed.

Btw, if you are worried about cleanliness, try the beausoleil variety. They are cultured in pods that float on the surface of the water so there's less risk of sand getting inside.

[elton5354]

Well I scrub them before opening them. I have a very stiff brush for that.
But when you open then, you don't do anything to the inside except slice off the feet that attach them to the shell, and maybe drip in some lemon juice.

You eat them RAW. The inside is not washed.

Btw, if you are worried about cleanliness, try the beausoleil variety. They are cultured in pods that float on the surface of the water so there's less risk of sand getting inside.

Ok thanks! I'll drop by Loblaws on Monday..!

[gmark2000]

There was a thread a couple years ago about Sobey's carrying boxed oysters for cheap. I went out an bought one an loved it.

I even ended up getting a real shucking knife and kevlar shucking glove for the next time around but I never got to use them yet.

[Dr Butcher]

Seafood depot has a pretty large selection.

http://www.seafooddepot.ca/productgroup-Oysters

I've bought them by the box at Diana's in Scarborough and they were great.

[jayt90]

I'll second Diana's, 2101 Lawrence Av. E. Wing's post has the link.
The staff is helpful, and price/selection good, probably fresher than a mart.
Diana's oyster knives are inexpensive too.

[a_nik_02]

City fish market is also great. On dufferin, south of lawrence in the plaza with Lady York Foods. They have them by the case, and you can pick out however many you would like. Very fresh, and they are fantastic! They also sell oyster shuckers in the store....the staff are great, and really know their stuff :)
I would highly reccomend them :)

[Odd I/O]

Is it safe to eat raw oysters that hasn't been professionally prepared in a restaurant? Are there any steps you need to take in eating raw oysters at home? Or do you just take the oysters out of the box and enjoy? Just concerned about food poisoning/E-Coli.

[aser]

Yes, the restaurants get them from generally the same suppliers as you would if purchased retail. The biggies restaurants call for oysters are Oyster Boy, Diana's, Seacore/Seafood Depot, etc....As long as the oysters are farmed from a reputable source, they'll have papers certifying the waters are clean. It is a heavily regulated industry, much water testing is done to ensure safety.

Preparation is simple, rinse/scrub oysters under cold water to remove sand/dirt/grit. Then keep them in the fridge (flat side facing up) on ice in a perforated hotel pan w/ ice. The ice keeps it cool while the perforated pan lets the melted water drip away. You absolutely do not want the oysters soaking in water, this will kill them. If stored properly, with ice changed & water drained daily, they can last a few weeks.

[susuwatari]

I third Diana's Seafood. Places like Loblaws don't sell their seafood with raw consumption in mind. Plus Diana's Seafood is an oyster source for some well known raw/oyster bars in the Toronto region so it's more reputable and has better history. They will even teach you how to shuck if you ask~

[Jucius Maximus]

Is it safe to eat raw oysters that hasn't been professionally prepared in a restaurant? Are there any steps you need to take in eating raw oysters at home? Or do you just take the oysters out of the box and enjoy? Just concerned about food poisoning/E-Coli.
I have eaten raw oysters from the grocery store many times.
The main thing is to ensure that they are sealed tightly and still alive.
Also, scrub the outsides mightily to get them clean so you don't get dirt on your hands.

I never had a problem with my stomach or bowels or anything after eating raw oysters.

[Odd I/O]

Thanks for the replies aser and Jucius Maximus. How can I tell if they're still alive? If they're dead then they shouldn't be eaten raw?

[Jucius Maximus]

Thanks for the replies aser and Jucius Maximus. How can I tell if they're still alive? If they're dead then they shouldn't be eaten raw?

If they are alive then the shell will be shut tight.
If they're dead, they won't be actively closing themselves.

[JJ23]

This is a good thread. Been following it for a while.

I was wondering, you guys that have shucked oysters at home before. Do you recommend anywhere to buy the shucker Knife and metal Glove? Is it foolish to use a towel instead of the glove?
And do the grocery stores that usually sell oysters sell these tools too?

Thanks!

[Jucius Maximus]

I was wondering, you guys that have shucked oysters at home before. Do you recommend anywhere to buy the shucker Knife and metal Glove? Is it foolish to use a towel instead of the glove?
And do the grocery stores that usually sell oysters sell these tools too?

I got a shucker knife at a kitchen speciality store (Golda's Kitchen.) I have also seen them at Kitchen Stuff Plus. I never saw them at stores where I also bought the oysters.

Edit: You can now get them at amazon.ca (http://www.amazon.ca/OXO-Good-Grips-Oyster-Knife/dp/B00004OCLC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1257221043&sr=1-2). This is the same knife that I have.

I should mention that you can also do it with a slot screwdriver. In fact, some of the oysters I got at T&T were so tough that the oyster knife would just bend, and only the screwdriver was strong enough.

I did not have a metal glove. I used this tough leather work glove, and a towel. Still could have impaled my hand, though. If you are experienced, you know exactly where to stick in the knife / screwdriver, and not much force at all is needed.

[JJ23]

Thank you Jucius Maximus. I just ordered the knife from Golda's Kitchen (the Oxo Maximus) after checking out amazon.com and .ca (they had pricier shipping).

I'll use your leather glove idea since a Real oyster glove on amazon is $136 US for the chain mail, and the Kevlar ones cheaper at under $10, if anyone's interested.

My next question is about garnish. I came across your thread on Oysters from 2007 which was pretty cool, and the question was asked there too. Right now all I can think of is Tabasco, Lime (or lemon?) juice, +/- Horseradish? Any good suggestions?

[aser]

Smell each oyster after opening, you'll know if one is bad. You'll get the random dead one that will be putrid, you'll smell it for sure. You will see professional shuckers do this after opening each oyster, giving it the sniff test.

The good ones will smell just like the sea, very fresh scent.

[M@rk]

A glove makes it easier, but a cloth over your hand works just as well for those of us who don't do it frequently enough to bother buying a glove.

[heri0n]

i would not buy oysters from T&T ever again.
My friends and I bought a lot to eat, I noticed they tasted like crap, and a really (dirty) fishy smell/taste. My friends said they were okay with it, it was just the "asian" kind of oysters. I spat mine out. We noticed later there were small black bugs still alive swimming around in the oyster juice... freaking gross. Upon opening though I think they died shortly after because of the light or heat (it's cold inside the shell)? I would definitely not recommend eating them raw, cooked they would probably be okay.

Anyway, I get my oysters from the Mermaid and the Oyster in Oakville on Kerr street. They are good to me, gave me a bunch of oysters for a bit cheaper and even lent me their shucking knife. The oysters there are always fresh and very nice.

[gmark2000]

I got my kevlar glove off of eBay.

[Jucius Maximus]

Thank you Jucius Maximus. I just ordered the knife from Golda's Kitchen (the Oxo Maximus) after checking out amazon.com and .ca (they had pricier shipping).
(...)
My next question is about garnish. I came across your thread on Oysters from 2007 which was pretty cool, and the question was asked there too. Right now all I can think of is Tabasco, Lime (or lemon?) juice, +/- Horseradish? Any good suggestions?

LOL, I had forgotten about that thread.
As for myself, I prefer to have them 'naked' so I avoid condiments.