The French eat more oysters per capita than anybody in the Western world. And 80% of the oysters in France are eaten during the holiday season--from a few days before Christmas until a little after New Year's Day. Why? Because oysters are at their peak this time of year. And they go so well with the holiday feasts.
To me, the holidays wouldn't seem complete without oysters. But I've been disappointed by Galveston Bay oysters this season. Luckily the bivalves from Espiritu Santo Bay down around
The big brute of the oyster-shucking world is called a "Galveston knife" (on the left). It's an eight-inch knife with a stout four-inch blade designed for opening large oysters like the five-inch Espiritu Santo Bay oyster shown beside it. (Espritu Santo Bay is down around Port O'Connor.) The knife shown is an inexpensive plastic model available at restaurant supply stores for under $10.
