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New England Oysters and Valentine's Day: A Perfect Match
Dublin, New Hampshire (February 2008)--Myth or not, oysters have long been considered a food of love. As far back as the 1700s, the great womanizer Giacomo Casanova is said to have consumed up to four or five dozen oysters a day to keep him "fit" for his many escapades. Combine that with another piece of folklore that says that oysters should be eaten only in months containing the letter r (though science shows oysters may be eaten safely year-round) and that makes them ideal for Valentine's Day on February 14.
"Right now is when I love oysters the most. The local waters are super-cold and clean, and oysters are doing nothing but getting ready for spring, when they become amorous and consider settling down and starting oyster beds," says Annie B. Copps, senior editor/food for Yankee Magazine. "For the next few months, oysters are at their peak. I'm a fool for Wellfleets, Cotuit, Connecticut Blue Points, PEIs, Tomahawks from Martha's Vineyard, Moonstones from Rhode Island."
To complement oysters, Annie recommends selecting a sparkling wine such as Champagne, Cava, or Prosecco, or a still white wine. "A crisp Loire Valley white is classic," says Annie. "But my current favorite white wine, and an excellent choice to accompany oysters, is Grüner Veltliner from Austria."
Try some of Annie's favorite recipes available from YankeeMagazine.com:
Oysters with Apple Cider Mignonette
Oysters fried with tartar sauce
Oysters on the half shell with mignonette sauce
Oysters stuffed with herbed mascarpone and wrapped in prosciutto
Oysters with Spinach and Lemon Sauce
Oysters are high in protein and full of nutrients. They're especially high in zinc, which helps regulate testosterone and progesterone levels. This in turn helps maintain the libido in both men and women.
Warm-weather months (without the r ?May, June, July, and August) are spawning time for most oysters. During that time, oysters are often softer in texture and watery in taste, but still delicious and readily available.
For an in-depth look at the history of oysters, as well as a field guide to New England's oysters, visit http://www.yankeemagazine.com/food/recipe/oysters -30-
Note to media: Yankee welcomes the media to interview our writers and editors, who are experts on New England. For more information, contact Heather Atwell.
Yankee Publishing Inc. is an independent media company based in Dublin, New Hampshire. Yankee Magazine ("New England's Magazine") was first published in September 1935 and is the only magazine dedicated to New England. The Old Farmer's Almanac ("Often Imitated but Never Equaled") is the nation's oldest continuously produced periodical. Products include The Old Farmer's Almanac All-Seasons Garden Guide, The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids, YankeeMagazine.com, Almanac.com, Almanac4Kids.com, YankeeFoliage.com, and various podcasts. The company also produces a wide range of books, calendars, and custom-published products.
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