I'd booked a while ago, when the tour was set for October, the day after our anniversary, it was to be a treat. However, the dust storm back in September buggered things up at the river and the tour was postponed until today. Still, something to do on a Sunday afternoon is nice.
The tour, run by Urban Graze, was on a real oyster farm, lease, and oyster farmer Steve, gave us the run down on farming in the river since the nasty QX oyster disease hit the Hawkesbury.
These are mere bebes.
These are the poor buggers that sacrificed themselves for our lunch.
They don't look that appetising really, all lumpen and muddy.
Steve introduced us to the bebe oysters, they start on his leases about the size of 1/2 a matchstick. Yep, even the bits of sand there are bebe oysters. Quite cute really. 
Because the QX disease hits the native Sydney Rock Oyster, they can't be farmed anymore. The Pacific Oyster, in it's natural state is a feral pest. So, Farmer Steve farms Triploid Pacific Oysters, they have 3 chromosomes (I think), and can't spawn. They are basically mules.
First off the bebe oysters are grown in bags. Then they get moved to baskets. 
They get tumble cleaned from time to time in these.
Not yet ready for eating.
Apparently the buggers will just keep growing and growing if you let them. This monster was bigger than Mr Brown's manly man hands (please note, today he wore blue).
Before we ate we had a bit of a wander about the processing bit. Don't the curtains make a nice touch? They go in here.
Before we ate we had a bit of a wander about the processing bit. Don't the curtains make a nice touch? They go in here. Through here.
High tech stuff that made the boys go ooooooo.
And they get shot out here, and off to market they go.
I'm afraid I failed oyster shucking, little bastards didn't want to die and their screams made me feel bad. Luckily Mr Brown is deaf to the screams of oysters and shucked like he was born for it. To be fair, it was a cheat, he practically grew up on oyster leases, back in the middle ages.
Going in "the back way".
Bingo, opened and murdered in it's own little bed.
We (ehemm) shucked the whole tray full.
Then Mr Brown's special talent was recognised and he was put to work pouring the fizzy wine.
The lunch extras, Hawkesbury River Prawns, sweet and delicious, Darling Mills greens (which we get bags of from our local market on Saturdays).
The lovely Tara from Urban Graze made up a couple of mignonettes to try our oysters with and steamed some with ginger and shallot. I've not been a fan of the cooked oyster, but it seems that's just because the ones I've tried have been baked or bbq-ed to death. A very light steaming is all that's required.
After lunch we went out on a punt to look at the leases.
It's rather beautiful country as well as being excellent oyster territory.
An old oyster farmer's hut, lovely position but a little derilct for my taste.
And to top the day off, we were mooned by a pelican at the carpark.
High tech stuff that made the boys go ooooooo.
And they get shot out here, and off to market they go.
I'm afraid I failed oyster shucking, little bastards didn't want to die and their screams made me feel bad. Luckily Mr Brown is deaf to the screams of oysters and shucked like he was born for it. To be fair, it was a cheat, he practically grew up on oyster leases, back in the middle ages.Going in "the back way".
Bingo, opened and murdered in it's own little bed.
We (ehemm) shucked the whole tray full.
Then Mr Brown's special talent was recognised and he was put to work pouring the fizzy wine.
The lunch extras, Hawkesbury River Prawns, sweet and delicious, Darling Mills greens (which we get bags of from our local market on Saturdays).
The lovely Tara from Urban Graze made up a couple of mignonettes to try our oysters with and steamed some with ginger and shallot. I've not been a fan of the cooked oyster, but it seems that's just because the ones I've tried have been baked or bbq-ed to death. A very light steaming is all that's required.
After lunch we went out on a punt to look at the leases.
It's rather beautiful country as well as being excellent oyster territory.
An old oyster farmer's hut, lovely position but a little derilct for my taste. Really lovely to be out on the river, and yes, we did eat some straight out of the river, quite a few actually.
And to top the day off, we were mooned by a pelican at the carpark.
A lovely day was had by all, the food was wonderful, the oysters were fantastic and only $10 a dozen to take home. Guess what we're having for dinner Monday night. Yes, Monday, even Mr Brown couldn't face another oyster today. I never thought I'd live to see the day.
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8 comments:
you'll be bonking like rabbits with all that oyster eating!
What a fantastic day! I'm very impressed by Mr. Brown's heterosexual skill at opening bivalves. (Oops. Bi.)
Did they raise the beds for you to see or does the tide come in and cover them? I've tried shucking oysters, too, and failed badly.
How interesting, thanks for sharing the pics and everything.
And you're nobody until you're mooned by a pelican, imho.
S, if we are I'm not sharing.
Cookie - ;)
Zoomie, it's tidal and very salty.
E - always a pleasure, there are of course eleventy million more photos, it happens whenever we let Rupert out of his box.
Great trip out - I'll have to add it to the zillion things to do when I visit Oz (if and when, it's trying to get himself there too!!!)
Roo, just make sure you wear a hat and plenty of sunscreen - your lovely English skin would be in peril!
Awesome!
I love oysters - all briny and sweet - like precious tastes of the ocean.
We had pickled(!) oysters last month and they were astoundingly good!
Love the pics and the narrative, but my mouth is watering over the prospect of that many oysters!
And I just checked the exchange rate - AU & US are nearly even so I'm extra envious of the cost of your bounty!
Many thanks!
;o)
- Lee
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