Oyster House’s Shuck Fest Returns, Featuring Their Annual Oyster Shucking Competition
Oyster House’s Shuck Fest Returns, Featuring Their Annual Oyster Shucking Competition
On Sunday, April 29, from noon to 4 p.m., popular raw bar and restaurant Oyster House will host their third-annual Shuck Fest, featuring the Oyster Shucking Competition, now in its ninth year. The event will feature an array of activities centered on the oyster, finishing off with their popular shucking competition for both professionals and aspiring oyster shuckers. Admission to Shuck Fest is $15 per person (cash only). Additionally, children are welcome and those under 12-years old are free with adult admission.
Throughout the afternoon, Oyster House’s bar will be open on a pay-as-you-go basis with specials on beer, including Narragansett; cocktails made with Philadelphia Distilling’s Bluecoat American Dry Gin as well as The Bay Vodka; and wine. Additionally, Executive Chef Brett Naylor’s food booth will offer dishes for guests to enjoy such asNew England Clam Chowder; Popcorn Shrimp; and Crispy Fried Oyster Sliders. These items are cash-only.
During Shuck Fest, attendees may enjoy various activities including:
- Oyster Shucking Tutorials, where guests may learn how to shuck with the pros from Oyster House’s own team of master shuckers.
- Meet-Greet-and-Eat with local oyster growers including, Cape May Salts Oyster Company, Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm, Blue Island Oyster Company, Betsy’s Cape Shore Salts, Barnegat Oyster Collective, and enjoy complimentary oysters as well as learn about their process and products.
- Craft Table for kids who wish to paint and make fun jewelry with oyster shells.
- “Shell-fie” Photo Booth with props for added fun.
- Oyster Shucking Competition:
- Beginning at 2 p.m., the Oyster Shucking contest will commence, featuring professional oyster shuckers from Oyster House and other renowned seafood houses in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., all competing for a $200 Cash Prize. These competitors will be graded on speed and accuracy by the judging panel including Alex Tewfik, food editor of Philadelphia magazine, Drew Lazor, a Philadelphia-based food and drink writer whose work has been featured in thePhiladelphia Inquirer, Bon Appétit, Conde Nast Traveler as well as other notable outlets, and Kass Dahlquist aka @PhillyFoodGirl. Penalties will be given for presentation fouls such as broken shells, cut oysters or incorrect number of oysters.
- After a winner is crowned, amateur shuckers will race with the same guidelines, for a chance to win a $100 Oyster House Gift Certificate. Onlookers may enjoy the fruits of the competitors’ labors; the oysters will be passed to the crowd after each heat.
