Recent concerns about the Mississippi River diversion per the Bonne Care Spillway's affects on Oysters intertwined with other memories about the great mollusks ....
Many of us Oyster lovers are certainly worried about the possible terrible affect that the current Mississippi River diversion per the Bonnet Care Spillway may be having on the plight of oyster fisherman and the availability of that beloved mollusk for us connoisseurs.
In light of these concerns, let me ponder some great Oyster memories.
As noted by author John Staughton:
“Oysters are delicious mollusks that provide the human body with a number of unique nutrients and minerals. Health benefits include the ability of oysters to aid in weight loss, boost metabolic activity, increase tissue repair and growth, lower cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure, improve immune functions, aid in wound healing, and promote healthy growth. Furthermore, they are known to be a powerful aphrodisiac, and also increase bone strength to reduce osteoporosis.”
Advocate Journalist Smiley Anders' recent story about how Casamento's Oyster Poboys were a "marital enhancement" to his then dated “Lady K” brought back my memories of how my late Daddy really loved dem too - he used to bring a lot of dose huge Oyster poboys home to my late Mommy in his hey day!
And in Jan, 2019, when Kevin, my nephew, and Brianne had their wedding rehearsal party . Brennan's Ralph's on the Park, it was so cool to get a shellacked oyster half-shell with my name on it as a favor - that Sarah, Kevin's Sister - my Niece, had made!
For a great price ($ 8.99 + tax) you can get a 12 inch fully dressed oyster poboy at "Save More" Gas Station at the corner of Plank & Evangeline - just got one recently and shared with my better-half, Maria.
Drago and Clara Cvitanovich co-founded the famous Fat City “Drago's Seafood Restaurant,” were so special to customers like me and Leo Bodenheimer - a co-worker with me back in the late 70s from Piggly Wiggly on St. Charles Ave and Cherokee in da Big Easy – when we used to sometimes frequent dat den fabulous Yugoslavian (now "Croatian") Oyster establishment in Metairie after work!
It was so cool to see recently in the Advocate that a Drago's Restaurant was being planned for Baton Rouge near College Drive … I can't wait to check out all of their great oysters again and other cuisine after too many years.
While I may have never been sung a “Happy Birzzday" by the late Drago, as he was known to enunciate, I always got a kick out of his reaction when I'd ask for a “Dixie Beer” – when he was promoting a Yugoslavian brew … and I can't wait to enjoy some of their “Oysters Voisin” - Fried Louisiana oysters, creamed spinach, bacon, bordelaise sauce and extra cheese topped on toasted French bread medallions!
Seaux be sure to get as much of dem Oysters as you can to enhance your overall life, and please pray dat “Old Man River” subsides soon with little negative effects on our seafood industry.
Keith John Paul Horcasitas, 1133 Knollhaven Dr., BRLA 70810, July 5, 2019.
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When my wife and I were looking for a place to rent, we met a guy at Capt. Benny's (a restaurant on the south loop 610 in Houston shaped like a fishing boat. All gone now for some reason.) to discuss renting his condo. He was downing raw oysters. My wife and I tried some fried ones but I didn't find them particularly appetizing. A year later, there was a scare with some people being poisoned, I can't remember what it was, now. Anyway, the TV reporter found one of the victims and interviewed him. It was the guy that rented us the condo!
Way back in landlocked West Virginia one time, I had lunch at Capt. D's. Fried clams, although over the years my favorite mussel is scallops. The next day I had to drive 80 miles to Wheeling and give a four hour teacher training. But that evening I started to get very sick with diarrhea that lasted all night. I felt better by morning, but arrived two hours later and had to cut the session short. Most of the students stuck around, but some had already left. I don't recall ever being sick from food like I was from those clams. I figure they had been thawed out and left refrigerated or unrefrigerated too long, and maybe, were undercooked.
Ron