Raw Oysters: Love it or hate it?

John_Rambo · 10-01-2021 3:15pm

Graces7 wrote: »

Never saw the need.

When I was in Orkney they offered me " ebbmeat" is razor shell residents and here it was winkles I was offered ie periwinkles, but I desisted.

When we were little, we used to be sent gathering of winkles; they pulled them out with a pin to eat them; alive

Are oysters still alive wen eaten? Gross! As gross as dropping lobsters alive in boiling water. That is when they turn red ….

The whole sea food thing repels me. They say it has to be kept alive to stop it going off? I was in SV in Clifden once and a live lobster was there in a crate of water, claws taped up.

All if it??? You never ever eat fish?

PARlance · 10-01-2021 3:40pm

Graces7 wrote: »

Never saw the need.

When I was in Orkney they offered me " ebbmeat" is razor shell residents and here it was winkles I was offered ie periwinkles, but I desisted.

When we were little, we used to be sent gathering of winkles; they pulled them out with a pin to eat them; alive

Are oysters still alive wen eaten? Gross! As gross as dropping lobsters alive in boiling water. That is when they turn red ….

The whole sea food thing repels me. They say it has to be kept alive to stop it going off? I was in SV in Clifden once and a live lobster was there in a crate of water, claws taped up.

And all the other fish and animals that made it to SV Clifden dead, had harmonious lives.

John_Rambo · 10-01-2021 11:41pm

Not liking raw oysters is fair enough, it's not everyone's cup of tea but I'm amazed to hear some Irish people don't eat fish. An island nation on the Atlantic seaboard.... No fish at all?!? The massive range of fish with different tastes, textures etc... available to us is unbelievable. Not to mentions it's one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

Chipotle · 10-01-2021 11:49pm

Oysters are one of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat. They are a proper superfood. So called health experts put too much emphasis on foods such as blueberries and nuts. The real superfoods are the likes of oysters, liver, sardines and eggs. Nutrient dense fooda.

IAMAMORON · 11-01-2021 12:35pm

Graces7 wrote: »

I was in SV in Clifden once and a live lobster was there in a crate of water, claws taped up.

Tasty.

In fairness the exclusivity of Lobster and its' apparent ostentation is a comparatively new phenomenon. It was quite common on the west coast of Ireland to eat Lobster for your breakfast as much as 40-50 years ago. Personally I think it is overrated - I prefer a Langoustine.

Don't get me started on the concept of empathising with fish in a barrel. I am past that crap, the lines of demarcation have been sincerely drawn.

raclle · 11-01-2021 12:52pm

Graces7 wrote: »

The whole sea food thing repels me.

Most of it repels me but the thoughts of an oyster going down my throat weirds me out. I feel like its alive inside me

fonecrusher1 · 11-01-2021 12:53pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

how do they look disgusting exactly?

Well raw in the shell they look like a cold splodge of grey slime. Maybe its just me but that doesn't exactly make me drool.

Why do you think they look appetizing?

murpho999 · 11-01-2021 2:02pm

Absolutely love oysters. One of the tastiest things I've ever eaten. Hint of lemon is all that's needed but I love them with nothing at all put on them.

I know people eat with their eyes but to call them disgusting looking and compare them to jizz is bizarre.

I'd say most people who find them disgusting have probably never tried them.

murpho999 · 11-01-2021 2:04pm

John_Rambo wrote: »

Not liking raw oysters is fair enough, it's not everyone's cup of tea but I'm amazed to hear some Irish people don't eat fish. An island nation on the Atlantic seaboard.... No fish at all?!? The massive range of fish with different tastes, textures etc... available to us is unbelievable. Not to mentions it's one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

As an island, the fish culture here is very poor.

Go to a shop and they'd have a small selection and good shellfish is hard to get.

I'm always amazed when I go to places like Spain and even in the normal supermarkets you can get fresh squid, octopus, swordfish, oysters etc.

Wish it was like that here.

Purgative · 11-01-2021 2:11pm

murpho999 wrote: »

As an island, the fish culture here is very poor.

Go to a shop and they'd have a small selection and good shellfish is hard to get.

I'm always amazed when I go to places like Spain and even in the normal supermarkets you can get fresh squid, octopus, swordfish, oysters etc.

Wish it was like that here.

One of my odd passions is whelks - love them. Can't get them here. I have to get someone to bring them over (not these days with Covid and Brexit) but where are they caught

Donegal

.

There was a guy on the Late Late who's thing was whelks and Tubs had to admit that though they'd tried they couldn't source them here.

Bobblehats · 11-01-2021 2:18pm

murpho999 wrote: »

I'm always amazed when I go to places like Spain and even in the normal supermarkets you can get fresh squid, octopus, swordfish, oysters etc.

Wish it was like that here.

Places like spain, if you’re not harbour side ready to tuck in as it’s slapped against the wall by a man in a wetsuit you’re not really considered to be eating it fresh

Potatoeman · 11-01-2021 2:42pm

Had them a few times, it’s the look that is off putting. Though most people just swallow them rather than taste them. Oysters and a pint is the most common and people there just swallow then a sip of the pint right after. Not really savouring the oyster taste at all. Would like to taste them cooked though.

IAMAMORON · 11-01-2021 2:44pm

I will probably be labelled a heathen by the Oyster purists, but I love a few dashes of Tabasco on one myself?

breezy1985 · 11-01-2021 2:51pm

John_Rambo wrote: »

Not liking raw oysters is fair enough, it's not everyone's cup of tea but I'm amazed to hear some Irish people don't eat fish. An island nation on the Atlantic seaboard.... No fish at all?!? The massive range of fish with different tastes, textures etc... available to us is unbelievable. Not to mentions it's one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

We are an awful weird country in that sense. Must be something the English left us as they are as bad despite all the crying about fisheries

murpho999 · 11-01-2021 2:57pm

IAMAMORON wrote: »

I will probably be labelled a heathen by the Oyster purists, but I love a few dashes of Tabasco on one myself?

Nothing wrong with that, it's a very popular way to serve them.

Feisar · 11-01-2021 3:03pm

IAMAMORON wrote: »

I will probably be labelled a heathen by the Oyster purists, but I love a few dashes of Tabasco on one myself?

I've never eaten them. A question on the flavour, is it delicate like a scallop? What I'm getting at is what's the point if yer lashing tabasco on them? Yer not the first person in the thread to mention it either so it's obviously a done thing.

IAMAMORON · 11-01-2021 3:07pm

murpho999 wrote: »

Nothing wrong with that, it's a very popular way to serve them.

I would be washing them down with a chilled bottle of Riesling.

I would go full whack. Proper cotton shirt, trendy jeans and a jumper thrown over both shoulders for added chuntishness.

It might be a good time to get me, I tend to be anyones' when I am skulling white wine.

Potatoeman · 11-01-2021 3:23pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

We are an awful weird country in that sense. Must be something the English left us as they are as bad despite all the crying about fisheries

As someone earlier said it’s availability. Most fishmongers close early so you can’t drop in on the way home from work unlike a butcher. Surprised more butchers haven’t tried to sell more fresh fish.

murpho999 · 11-01-2021 3:24pm

IAMAMORON wrote: »

I would be washing them down with a chilled bottle of Riesling.

I would go full whack. Proper cotton shirt, trendy jeans and a jumper thrown over both shoulders for added chuntishness.

It might be a good time to get me, I tend to be anyones' when I am skulling white wine.

Ha yes, jumper over the shoulder is a great look.

Maybe some Dubarry Deck shoes as well would be good too.

Nermal · 11-01-2021 3:32pm

Degag wrote: »

I guarantee most of these people eat prawns. Does a raw whole prawn look any more appetizing than an oyster?

Hello sir, would you like to eat this giant sea-insect? We removed the exoskeleton so that it resembles a large maggot. Bon appetit!

breezy1985 · 11-01-2021 3:34pm

Potatoeman wrote: »

As someone earlier said it’s availability. Most fishmongers close early so you can’t drop in on the way home from work unlike a butcher. Surprised more butchers haven’t tried to sell more fresh fish.

But then why are our restaurants not full of fish like other countries and also there would have been no problem in terms of availability when only one parent worked. Outside of a bit of mackerel or battered cod no fish would be considered part of the Irish diet

Even when dining on the west coast there are towns with a massive lack of places that specializes in fish. There has been some changes though recently with pubs and restaurants that favour local produce and even then many Irish will look at them as being fancy or hipster

IAMAMORON · 11-01-2021 4:24pm

murpho999 wrote: »

Ha yes, jumper over the shoulder is a great look.

Maybe some Dubarry Deck shoes as well would be good too.

I am not from Kinsale either...

Probably a pair of lightly tanned Barkers Murph. You would smell the leather and polish off them.

Potatoeman · 11-01-2021 4:49pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

But then why are our restaurants not full of fish like other countries and also there would have been no problem in terms of availability when only one parent worked. Outside of a bit of mackerel or battered cod no fish would be considered part of the Irish diet

Even when dining on the west coast there are towns with a massive lack of places that specializes in fish. There has been some changes though recently with pubs and restaurants that favour local produce and even then many Irish will look at them as being fancy or hipster

I think many people try and get the most value, so always order stake, then others don’t trust fish due to food poisoning. I know two people it happened to and apparently it’s pretty bad. Larger restaurants have fish but smaller ones it’s less common because it goes off quicker too.

murpho999 · 11-01-2021 4:56pm

Potatoeman wrote: »

I think many people try and get the most value, so always order stake, then others don’t trust fish due to food poisoning. I know two people it happened to and apparently it’s pretty bad. Larger restaurants have fish but smaller ones it’s less common because it goes off quicker too.

Food poisoning from any food is bad. No worse or better with meat.
How come people in other countries don't have this fear of food poisoning?

You're no more at risk from food poisoning from fish that other foods.

A lot of people just have a fear of fish and don't like the taste of the sea but I find it silly as a piece of cod, an oyster, a tuna steak and a prawn as examples all have completely different tastes and textures.

Montage of Feck · 11-01-2021 5:04pm

You'll get over the food poisoning but the heavy metals you'll have for life. :P

Amirani · 11-01-2021 5:12pm

I do enjoy them from time to time. I don't have them that much though and never bother having them at home - would just have them when out in a restaurant.

I always fine that around 3 is plenty for me though, wouldn't really be mad about eating 6+ in a sitting.

Potatoeman · 11-01-2021 5:21pm

murpho999 wrote: »

Food poisoning from any food is bad. No worse or better with meat.
How come people in other countries don't have this fear of food poisoning?

You're no more at risk from food poisoning from fish that other foods.

A lot of people just have a fear of fish and don't like the taste of the sea but I find it silly as a piece of cod, an oyster, a tuna steak and a prawn as examples all have completely different tastes and textures.

I know two people that got it and refuse to eat fish out since, no issue cooking it themselves. Apparently it’s horrendous, the worst food poisoning you can get.

breezy1985 · 11-01-2021 5:44pm

I love how every one is always so sure where they shot their food poisoning from. Absolutely cracks me up

The new version is people who are 100% sure who they caught Covid off

breezy1985 · 11-01-2021 5:47pm

Potatoeman wrote: »

I think many people try and get the most value, so always order stake, then others don’t trust fish due to food poisoning. I know two people it happened to and apparently it’s pretty bad. Larger restaurants have fish but smaller ones it’s less common because it goes off quicker too.

Ok but if you go to a seaside pub in West Clare the menu is often the very same as a pub in Limerick. Burgers, chicken with maybe scampi thrown in to look seaside.
That would be considered unusual anywhere else I know of in Europe

Feisar · 11-01-2021 6:11pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

I love how every one is always so sure where they shot their food poisoning from. Absolutely cracks me up

The new version is people who are 100% sure who they caught Covid off

In fairness one sort of has an aversion to what made them sick. I got food poisoning from a bottle of Bacardi when I was a young lad. Still can't drink the stuff.

Purgative · 11-01-2021 6:14pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

Ok but if you go to a seaside pub in West Clare the menu is often the very same as a pub in Limerick. Burgers, chicken with maybe scampi thrown in to look seaside.
That would be considered unusual anywhere else I know of in Europe

Just looked up the one "pure" seafood place I know. Its obviously closed now but its currently a diner selling burgers and chicken wings

Feisar · 11-01-2021 6:16pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

Ok but if you go to a seaside pub in West Clare the menu is often the very same as a pub in Limerick. Burgers, chicken with maybe scampi thrown in to look seaside.
That would be considered unusual anywhere else I know of in Europe

And you can almost guarantee the scampi came out of the freezer.

Markcheese · 11-01-2021 6:28pm

Amirani wrote: »

I do enjoy them from time to time. I don't have them that much though and never bother having them at home - would just have them when out in a restaurant.

I always fine that around 3 is plenty for me though, wouldn't really be mad about eating 6+ in a sitting.

I can't really eat the big rock oysters , I like the native ones though ,but even then 2 or 3 would do ..

There's an oyster stall at mahon and douglas markets in Cork now ,( last few months ) , see a good few customers with little wooden boxes of them ..

jackboy · 11-01-2021 6:57pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

Ok but if you go to a seaside pub in West Clare the menu is often the very same as a pub in Limerick. Burgers, chicken with maybe scampi thrown in to look seaside.
That would be considered unusual anywhere else I know of in Europe

There are a few spots in Clare that do a great job with seafood but you are correct in general. Very hard to get a large group of Irish in for a seaside only menu. You really have to target tourists more than locals to really commit to the seafood route,

murpho999 · 12-01-2021 1:13am

Potatoeman wrote: »

I know two people that got it and refuse to eat fish out since, no issue cooking it themselves. Apparently it’s horrendous, the worst food poisoning you can get.

I know hundreds of people that have eaten fish out and not gotten food poisoning
I really don't buy your anecdotal evidence.

Eating fish is no more dangerous than other food than also make you sick if bacteria is present or not cooked properly. You can also eat fish raw without trouble. Go try that with chicken or pork.

Cookie_Monster · 12-01-2021 9:35am

fonecrusher1 wrote: »

Well raw in the shell they look like a cold splodge of grey slime. Maybe its just me but that doesn't exactly make me drool.

Why do you think they look appetizing?

I dunno; any fresh, raw food is appetizing by default, no?

Potatoeman · 12-01-2021 12:46pm

murpho999 wrote: »

I know hundreds of people that have eaten fish out and not gotten food poisoning
I really don't buy your anecdotal evidence.

Eating fish is no more dangerous than other food than also make you sick if bacteria is present or not cooked properly. You can also eat fish raw without trouble. Go try that with chicken or pork.

I’ve no issue eating it myself, I’ll usually order it before stake as I have to go out of my way for fresh fish. It’s difficult to get fresh calamari that isn’t like rubber in a restaurant here. You can’t leave it under the heat lamp in the restaurant, it needs to come straight out and be fresh.
Also some people don’t like the fish the be served with its head on, which is odd too.

Edit: think the food poisoning was specifically shellfish, apparently very nasty to get.

Wesekn. · 12-01-2021 12:49pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

But then why are our restaurants not full of fish like other countries and also there would have been no problem in terms of availability when only one parent worked. Outside of a bit of mackerel or battered cod no fish would be considered part of the Irish diet

Even when dining on the west coast there are towns with a massive lack of places that specializes in fish. There has been some changes though recently with pubs and restaurants that favour local produce and even then many Irish will look at them as being fancy or hipster

Farming is bigger here than fishing but ya we don't have much selection of fish for an island nation

Wesekn. · 12-01-2021 12:53pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

Ok but if you go to a seaside pub in West Clare the menu is often the very same as a pub in Limerick. Burgers, chicken with maybe scampi thrown in to look seaside.
That would be considered unusual anywhere else I know of in Europe

True but people on the coast there would be eating plenty of periwinkles and seaweed ,mackerel crabs etc.

They get it themselves on the beach and off the rocks

fonecrusher1 · 12-01-2021 12:59pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I dunno; any fresh, raw food is appetizing by default, no?

Now, now you're deviating away from your own question. And no its not by default. Would you find raw beef appetizing?

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

how do they look disgusting exactly?

I think they look horrible presented raw in shell. Do you think they look appetizing?

EmmetSpiceland · 12-01-2021 1:01pm

Potatoeman wrote: »

It’s difficult to get fresh calamari that isn’t like rubber in a restaurant here.

Be wary if you’re ever ordering calamari in the States. There are stories of restaurants serving “imitation calamari” without stating that it is, in fact, imitation.

A ‘This American Life’ podcast covers it. They speak to a man who’s worked in an abattoir that didn’t throw out the “bung”, the pig’s anus, as was standard practice in other places he had worked. This was, reportedly, sold on and renamed “imitation calamari”. Which is legal as long as it is labelled as such on a menu.

No one believed this would be possible as the smell of the “meat” would put anyone off but when they got a chef to prepare it and did a blind taste test both participants were certain they had the “real” calamari. One of them was wrong.

Food for thought, I guess.

IAMAMORON · 12-01-2021 1:01pm

Thread deteriorating into a vegan trollfest.

Thelonious Monk · 12-01-2021 1:46pm

Wesekn. wrote: »

Farming is bigger here than fishing but ya we don't have much selection of fish for an island nation

Yeah it's mad. I was in Howth a couple of months ago trying to buy fish as I was having people over, pretty much all the fish in Wrights and Beshoffs was either farmed in the Med (Sea bream, sea bass) or imported from farms in India and Central America (prawns). The only fish that they had that was actually fresh fish from the sea, were mackerel, hake, and I think cod.
It's annoying because they like to give off the vibe that everything just came off the boats across the road from the shops.

Potatoeman · 12-01-2021 1:57pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

Be wary if you’re ever ordering calamari in the States. There are stories of restaurants serving “imitation calamari” without stating that it is, in fact, imitation.

A ‘This American Life’ podcast covers it. They speak to a man who’s worked in an abattoir that didn’t throw out the “bung”, the pig’s anus, as was standard practice in other places he had worked. This was, reportedly, sold on and renamed “imitation calamari”. Which is legal as long as it is labelled as such on a menu.

No one believed this would be possible as the smell of the “meat” would put anyone off but when they got a chef to prepare it and did a blind taste test both participants were certain they had the “real” calamari. One of them was wrong.

Food for thought, I guess.

Isn’t cows anus a popular Brazilian cut? Supposedly very tender.
Though sausages, hotdogs and pies have questionable meat quality not to mention fish cakes (these’s a reason they’re cheap).

yeppydeppy · 12-01-2021 2:02pm

A friend of mine grows and sells them: https://achilloysters.com/

IAMAMORON · 12-01-2021 2:02pm

I blame a society of demand to be honest. The reality is that the only genuine fresh fish you are getting on your plate in Ireland is fish that is coming off our own trawlers. Nitpick at that all you like.

We have excellent frozen fish here also - Lidl in particular.

I bought a bag of frozen Alaskan Pollock from Lidl a couple of months ago - it was divine.

Supply chains are a reality. The reason why we eat fish on Friday has phuck all got to do with it being a religious thing ... it is because the Trawlers would traditionally get back to harbour Wednesday night/ Thursday morning. Freon was only developed for widespread use in the 1930's.

Don't eat Calamari unless you are in a fishing village on the Med. In fact if you are ask them for the fresh house special. Don't make any enquiries about their eldest daughter either.

EmmetSpiceland · 12-01-2021 2:24pm

Potatoeman wrote: »

Isn’t cows anus a popular Brazilian cut? Supposedly very tender.
Though sausages, hotdogs and pies have questionable meat quality not to mention fish cakes (these’s a reason they’re cheap).

Haven’t heard that but it’s very possible. I’ve no problem with eating anything as long as I’m being charged the “going rate”. If I’m eating hog anus I don’t want to be paying calamari prices.

It’s like the horse meat scandal, the biggest “issue” for me was the idea of paying, low grade, beef prices for, low grade, horse.

The chef who prepared the “bung” on the podcast was originally very skeptical. He said it stank while he was cooking it but once it was fully prepared no one could tell the difference.

Thelonious Monk · 12-01-2021 2:35pm

IAMAMORON wrote: »

I blame a society of demand to be honest. The reality is that the only genuine fresh fish you are getting on your plate in Ireland is fish that is coming off our own trawlers. Nitpick at that all you like.

We have excellent frozen fish here also - Lidl in particular.

I bought a bag of frozen Alaskan Pollock from Lidl a couple of months ago - it was divine.

Supply chains are a reality. The reason why we eat fish on Friday has phuck all got to do with it being a religious thing ... it is because the Trawlers would traditionally get back to harbour Wednesday night/ Thursday morning. Freon was only developed for widespread use in the 1930's.

Don't eat Calamari unless you are in a fishing village on the Med. In fact if you are ask them for the fresh house special. Don't make any enquiries about their eldest daughter either.

The calamari in Spain and Italy could be from anywhere in the world too, and their traditional fishes like sea bream etc are all farmed.
The whole seafood system is a bit of a mess, as you said it's down to people expecting to be able to have whatever they want whenever they want.

emmalynn19 · 12-01-2021 2:38pm

fonecrusher1 wrote: »

Would you find raw beef appetizing?

Yes...

IAMAMORON · 12-01-2021 3:00pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

If I’m eating hog anus I don’t want to be paying calamari prices.

I don't know when, where or how .. but I am using this analogy at some stage in the future.

Raw Oysters: Love it or hate it?

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