OysterFest? Of course, we can make it!
...and we'll bring the spicy margaritas :-)
Question: What is better than an OysterFest in November?
Answer: Nothing.
Back in September, we received an invitation to one and started thinking about what to bring to the fete almost immediately. Why? Because the gathering was of a group of foodies 🙂
We knew the Fest would be a blast, but we also knew we needed to up our game in what we would contribute to the feast!!!
Read on to find out what we brought.
Hatch Chile Mixer
The oysters, in their various forms (raw, Rockefeller, etc.), will be supplied by the host. Guests were free to sign up for various categories (appetizer, salad, entree, etc.) if they wished to bring something to share. Everyone said “game on!”
Since it will be in November, we decided on Bourbon Shrimp Jambalaya paired with spicy margaritas. We had made the jambalaya a few times and were pretty confident that it would work really well for the event, especially if we made it a day ahead, which would let the flavors meld, and reheat it when we got there.
As for spicy margaritas, our “go-to” recipe has been tested in a few RainyDayEvents. We, of course, doctor it up with fresh slices of lemon, lime, and some jalapenos, but the base is always the Barsmith Hatch Chile mixer.
We have tried quite a few other mixers from different vendors, and the Hatch Chile from Barsmith is our favorite. The ratio to make the spicy margarita is three parts mixer to two parts tequila…easy to remember, even after having had a few 🙂
We brought along four bottles of Barsmith mixers, and regardless of the tequila, delicious margaritas were the result.
The Fete
Raw oysters are eaten for their briny, umami flavor, smooth yet substantial texture, and the fresh, intense taste experience they offer. Often, lemon and/or cocktail sauce is added to enhance the flavor.
Eating raw oysters can carry some risks, but it is relatively safe. The key to a good experience is freshness (still alive when served), both for safety and flavor.
How to shuck an oyster? We love eating them, but had no idea how to prepare one for eating. Fortunately, a few folks were on hand and did the prep work for the rest of the guests 🙂
The fete started in the early afternoon and lasted well into the evening. Everything was as tasty as we expected. Of course, we skipped breakfast and lunch so we would have room. LOL!!!
Other Food
When a group of folks who love cooking/eating/drinking get together, the variety of deliciousness is incredible. We didn’t get recipes for everything, but we did take photos so we can follow up at some later point.
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