Oysters! More oyster but this time we went to Island Creek Oyster farm and saw where the oysters grow and how they are breed, fed and harvested. We went on the day that the oyster were breeding. This was the first year ICO were making their own "seeds" for themselves and for other partners. Seeds are what they call baby oysters because they are so small they look like seeds. ICO selected the oysters that they wanted to breed based on shell, cup, size, growth tendency etc. Oysters need a warm environment to reproduce around 70 degrees. The waters around here do not get that warm, so oysters must be bred in controlled environments. Oh and Oysters are hermaphrodites so hopefully you get enough males and females for the day.
Later in the day the Chef from ICO, prepared with us a seasonal menu of clam and fennel soup, crab tortellini with fresh peas, pork loin with mashed potatoes and asparagus and a strawberry rhubarb crumble.
Chef's pasta recipe:
-18 yolks
-2 eggs
-1/4 cup wine
-1/4 cup olive oil
-flour until smooth and not too sticky
Perfect Mashed Potatoes:
-cut potatoes and wash them
-put in salted cold pot water bring to boil and then simmer
-drain when tender
-lay out potatoes on sheet pan and dry them in the oven
-mash in 1/2 butter and 1/2 heavy cream mixture (ADD, ADD and ADD) Potatoes will absorb a lot.
-always keep potatoes warm after mashed
-put through a strainer, adjust salt and pepper and YUM
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