photo: Jennifer Causey
This year, wintertime oyster roasts will feature smaller gatherings of close family, rather than the typical bunches of friends and bottomless bushels. But that doesn’t mean you want to slack on the details. We asked some of the South’s oyster roast aficionados to share their secrets for everything from transporting the bivalves to building a fire to discarding the shells. Follow their rules for a guaranteed shucking good time.
Choose the right oyster for your crowd.
Given that we’re still in pandemic times and your oyster roast crowd will be limited to a few close family members, most experts recommend going with singles. “If you are only serving oysters, I recommend ten to twelve oysters per person,” says Kevin Dubel, the executive chef at Tin Cup Kitchen + Oyster Bar in Virginia Beach, Virginia. “If you are serving additional food, go with four to six per person.” Of course, clusters are a coastal institution, more affordable, and steam r