July 15th, 2010 by Dawn Becker

Is it July? Yep. And I’m eating oysters. My dinner plans changed tonight so I decided to pick up a few oysters, among other things, at St. Jamestown Steak & Chops located on Parliament. I posted about St. Jamestown earlier this year, one of my favourite local butcher shops, that also sells fresh seafood, vegetables, dairy and deli items. I love this place because their products are fresh, reliable and delicious and the staff are also very helpful.

As an aside, I live very close to another butcher shop that gives me the mental equivalent of hives every time I walk in. There’s a strange vibe at Rowe Farms on Queen Street East and the staff always make me feel like it’s my privilege that they are serving me.

St. Jamestown doesn’t come with attitude so I will drive to the next neighbourhood a couple times a week instead of walking a block away because I don’t like to spend money in a place that gives me attitude. And every time I have to breakdown and buy something last minute at Rowe Farms that I’d forgotten on my grocery list I try to get the hell out of Dodge as fast as I can. I feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman in the shopping scene every time I walk out of St. Jamestown with my bags and bags of fresh produce and slabs of meat and wonder if this is the day I will walk into Rowe Farms and say “See!!”. Oh but I digress.

It’s July and I’m eating oysters in a month spelled without an “R”. The idea behind this is that oysters spawn in warmer months and they aren’t as palatable. Pashaw I say. Oyster producers have developed oysters that are still worthy of sucking back in months spelled without an “R”. However oysters in colder months are definitely more plump and do have a somewhat cleaner taste. But I’m not one to deny myself of anything tasty even if it is July. When I’ve got a craving, a deep-seated hankering for something yummy, say if my eye is caught by the gleam of a fresh oyster in the shell, then I must not be denied. Denial makes for an unhappy me and why shouldn’t I be happy, happy, happy all the time.

By the way, these Malpeques from St. Jamestown were $1.50 each or $14 for a dozen. Really a steal for these briny bivalves that I shucked myself easily popping them open. I find Malpeques are one of the easiest oysters to open yourself at home as the hinge is easy to identify so inserting your oyster knife is fairly smooth and with a quick twist the shell muscles detach. St. Jamestown will also special order oysters if there’s a specific type you want, like my favourite Kumamotos. Ask away. I’m sure they would be happy to help you.