Have You Tried?

We can’t exactly explain why history is so fascinating but the history of the oyster shooter both forces anyone who loves a good oyster to both crack a smile and scratch their head, and here goes the story behind the famed ‘Oyster Shooter’ aka ‘Oyster Cocktail’ –

The oyster cocktail was an oh-so-popular West Coast snack, with it’s origin being traced to San Francisco by a miner kicking back after a stint in the gold fields around the year 1860. The miner had hit his luck – and he was celebrating (and imbibing).

He was starving and in an indulgent mood, begged the waiter to bring him dish of the freshest California oysters with…some ketchup, horseradish, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and….a shot of whiskey. He took the whiskey shot. Put the oysters in a glass and threw in some salt, pepper, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, and ketchup. The restaurant owner glanced over at him with a puzzled look and asked, “what’s that mess?” and he quickly replied, “That’s what I call and oyster cocktail.”

And in classic restaurant style – the following day there was a sign in the window that read – “OYSTER COCKTAIL – FOUR BITS PER GLASS” – and within just a few days, the Oyster Cocktail was a on every menu in San Fran.

Oysters and Gold Miners? What’s the connection? Miners associated oysters with the top tier socio-economic classes, or in other words, the rich. They figured if the wealthy people in the East eat oysters…well then maybe they’d be rich if they in fact ate them too.

The history of anything never fails to impress us, or catch our attention – it’s especially true when jumping into the colorful past of the Vineyard or the story behind Jaws or the tales of the crazy 70’s on the Vineyard. The story behind the ‘invention’ of the ‘Oyster Shooter’ does not disappoint and if anything makes you want to go back for more.

The again does a fantastic (and delicious) job of taking something classic and traditional and twisting it just enough to make it not only fresh, but modern, approachable and addictive. JB & Chef Alex Nagi bring us a thoughtful menu of flavor combinations that show a true understanding of the brine and perfect complexion of the Katama Bay Oyster without ever taking away from it’s splendor – only, really, making it better, one combo at a time. Take a look at the menu – it speaks for itself:

• Citrus Vodka – cocktail sauce, horseradish & Tobasco over a Local Katama Bay Oyster
• Hendricks Gin – splash of soda & cucumber puree over a local Katama Bay Oyster
• Sam Summer Ale & a dash of Tobasco over a local Katama Bay Oyster
• El Tiburon Tequila – bloody mary mix & fresh lemon juice over a local Katama Bay Oyster
• Jameson Irish Whiskey & pickle juice over a local Katama Bay Oyster
• The Shooter Sampler Can’t decide? Try one of each

And if the history and the menu doesn’t hook you? Oysters might not be your thing.  And if you never knew the bits and pieces behind the ‘Oyster Shooter’, now you do, and now you’ll giggle every time you take one back.