We’re sailing the South Shore (and Cape Cod) seas to find the freshest oysters. With selections from Island Creek, Merry Oysters, and Moon Shoal, they’ll be a whole lotta slurping going on. Grab your shucker and let’s get cracking!
I purchased many of these oysters at the Island Creek Retail Store in Duxbury, Massachusetts. The world headquarters of Island Creek is one-stop shopping for oyster fans. Choose from usually a few selections of oysters (mostly local) and other delectable seafood treats such as shrimp, razor clams, or caviar. As well, there are all your shucking needs with sauces, books, and anything else oyster. Visit www.islandcreekoysters.com for detailed information on the farm, including information on tours.
Island Creek Oysters
Island Creek Oysters is the brainchild of Skip Bennett who started oyster farming in Duxbury in 1995. By 2000, Bennett had added more members to his team and they started distributing their oysters. Today Island Creek oysters can be enjoyed all over, from Canada to the Caribbean, including at famous restaurants in New York, California, and Chicago. They have even been slurped at the White House!
The oysters are the perfect mix of sweet and salty, briny but not excessively so. They are smaller in size and simply delicious. Pick up a dozen and you’ll understand the hype.
Merry Oysters
Former fish market owner, Don Merry, who also helped found Island Creek with Skip Bennett, Skip’s father Bill and Christian Horne, has his own oyster farm, distributing Duxbury oysters under the moniker of his last name, Merry Oysters. Although no brick-and-mortar shop exists, the oysters can be found in many area restaurants. For more information about Merry Oysters, go online at www.merryoysters.com. It does not matter what the name of the Duxbury oyster is; if it is from Duxbury Bay, it’s going to be good!
The oysters have a nice briny flavor, medium in size with excellent taste.
Row 34 Oysters
Another oyster variety from Skip Bennett, this Duxbury oyster has a briny finish. Average in size, these are another excellent choice. They are full of seaside flavor without being overbearing. Dig in!
Aunt Dotty’s
Aunt Dotty’s oysters are farmed off the shores of Saquish. Saquish is technically part of Plymouth but accessed via Duxbury Beach. These Saqusih beauties are also part of the Bennett family. The taste is vastly different from the Duxbury variety. They are smaller in size. Subtle and delicious, I find them less briny than the Island Creek or Row 34.
Moon Shoal
The Moon Shoal oysters are from Barnstable, a town on Cape Cod. These have a real taste of the sea. They have a soft mouth feel and are full of flavor.
I love that each region, although so close geographically, has unique flavors all of its own. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tour of South Shore (and Barnstable) oysters. Starting from Duxbury, heading to Plymouth and out to Cape Cod, all of these oysters will leave you craving more.
For a fun oyster experience, where you don’t do the shucking, head over to the Raw Bar at Island Creek Oysters.
