Oysters for always.

Last winter I read M.F.K. Fisher's seductive description of her first oyster at her all girl's boarding school Christmas party. I wished that I was excited by oysters so that I could appreciate the passage better.

Next it was oysters at Neptune for KH's birthday in March. Of course I couldn't meet her until after the oysters eaten and I missed the chance. I didn't think of anything of it then, having never had an oyster.

In June, we went to the third Franklin and at KH's urging I got an oyster with her and SEM, not wanting to be outdone or boring. My first oyster was exciting and fresh and unusual and perfect as I was dying for the weather to be hot enough to go body surfing in some Atlantic waves.

By mid July SEM and I had orchestrated a culinary camping trip (all the money was for the food) to Portland, Maine with JP and TM. The point was Fore Street (hopefully I will go again this winter and I will write about it - especially because it may have been the best meal of the season). Our reservations were for very late. We needed something to do in the mean time. JB had ordered oysters before I even realized it. Another mollusk down the hatch. I loved it but still didn't understand it.

Late in July GMA and I found ourselves on a beach in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, listening to a novel being read aloud by SEM whose protagonist was the best oyster shucker in her family's Whistable Oyster house. We were completely clueless to the fact that we were in WELLFLEET reading about the famous WHISTABLE oysters! In our fog about it all we didn't look for any. We just enjoyed the seals and whales we swam with.

In August SEM ate oysters in Oslo!



Later in my favorite month I had friends in from out of town and they wanted a good food treat on a Monday night. Perfect! We went back to Rialto and had a beautiful plate of 12 oysters on the half shell with four different and refreshing toppings. This was the first time I had more than one in a row. Each one a little rush.

October brought SEM to New Orleans, another town famous for the oyster, but had no time to squeeze a taste of them in. Ah, the good and bad of a business trip...She did find this postcard. At least this time she knew where she was in relation to a good oyster.

Last weekend an impromptu dinner at Rendezvous in central square with GMA and SEM led me to my most recent oysters. They were the highlight of the meal and from Wellfleet. This renewed my newly established longing for them.

I want to know what I missed at Neptune last spring. I want to experience B&G Oysters. I want more oysters. I want the thrill of each one.


Norway and Franklin oyster were photographed by sem.

Brooklyn Baby! (Part 2: Brunch and then some!)

IAM knew where she was taking us for brunch on the drizzly and windy morning we had before us: Tom's Restaurant.

After a few block walk from her apartment we reached our corner destination in Prospect Heights covered in real and faux fauna and florals. There were plastic chairs lined up in case there was a wait but luckily we went right in.

Immediately we were greeted by the owner handing out pumps of hand sanitizer and toast dripping with cinnamon butter and honey. Next a friendly man behind the kitchen counter made sure we had coffee if we wanted it.

When the owner realized that we weren't just your usual three sisters out to brunch - we were three sisters with the youngest's Spanish lover - he spoke the few words he knew of Spanish and then took the lover over to see a picture on the wall depicting the King of Spain skiing with the former owner of the restaurant in Colorado! It was that kind of place.

The menu was huge (as you can see) I was torn between sweet potato pancakes and pumpkin waffles. I bargained with my tablemates to finagle both. More toast was brought over. Then, while we were looking at the menu an old fashioned Egg Cream arrived at our table with four straws because of our Spanish friend.

We enjoyed our abundant breakfast. The potatoes were really salty and substantially delicious and familiar. My waffle was great, crispy and still fluffy and served with three different types of flavored butter! As we ate we were brought orange wedges and cookies. I have never seen this kind of service but I certainly didn't mind it at all.

The atmosphere was 30's mixed with 80's country home. The crowd was really a mix from the neighborhood. We sat next to someone my sister knew! They actually had me in their eyesight and started to talk about how that woman (me) looked just like their friend, IAM.

Every staff member said goodbye to us and wished us a good day as they do everyone. This was one of the warmest, quirkiest, most generous brunches I have ever had!