definitely there’s nowhere much better to discover exactly how to shuck oysters than on the shores of one of the world’s finest oyster regions. We travel to the Sapphire coastline as well as Broadwater Oyster farm on Pambula Lake in southern NSW to get our shuck on.
Not far from the southern border of new South Wales, the amazing waters of the Sapphire coastline create the very best Sydney rock Oysters in the world.
And popular Broadwater Oyster Farm, a household service that’s been cultivating these oysters for over 20 years, show us exactly how to shuck.
Check out our video of Pambula Lake, Broadwater Oyster Farm, as well as our shucking as well as tasting class here.
We pull into the carpark close to the row of fishermen’s sheds that line the wharf looking out over Pambula Lake. It’s a ravishing vista; the dead flat sheen of the pearlescent lake hemmed by trees as well as fronted by a bit harbour.
At their moorings, flat-bottom oystercatcher introduces slow-dance with their shadows that sway in the lake’s crystal depths.
This is what we were expecting when we very first heard of the Sapphire coastline Oyster Trail.
Hidden in the towering branches of the gumtrees that grip the carpark, the pinging phone calls of bell birds haunt the ethereal panorama before us.
For a while, we just stand as well as look.
The occasional pelican cuts a V with the lake’s mirror, as well as an orange as well as piebald flash of oystercatchers—birds this time—zoom past, piping with pride at the view.
Promise of fresh oysters born as well as raised just metres from us draw us from our reverie. The institution bell rings: our oyster shucking class is about to begin.
How to shuck oysters with Broadwater Oyster Farm, Pambula Lake
Travel is (or must be) always full of moments that stay with you forever. however there aren’t so lots of that supply you with a tangible skill as well.
Our classroom is a white linen-clad table ideal on the edge of the lake, where shucking knives, gauntlet gloves as well as tea towels await.
Our teacher, the charming Mel, takes us step by step with the very best method to open an oyster. very first removing the excess shell at the hinge, then prising as well as popping the oyster open, cutting with the muscle mass joined to the shell, then turning the oyster meat as well as slurping it down, she makes it look easy.
It’s difficult at first, however under Mel’s watchful tutorage, we swiftly improve.
This is a simplified five-step direction on exactly how to shuck oysters:
1. break the hinge with the knife tip
2. Prise the shells apart with the broad edge
3. cut the top connection to the shell with the sharp edge
4. cut the bottom connection to the shell with the sharp edge
5. turn the oyster over with the flat of the blade
Mel likewise tells us a few techniques for spotting a dodgy oyster or one that’s been eaten by a predator already, then about the process of farming them, what affects their flavour as well as then about eating them.
First we try the oysters just on their own.
We’ve never tasted oysters straight from the sea before as well as the experience is totally different to any type of oyster we’ve had in the past. when you’ve had fresh oysters in their own brine, you’ll never fail to remember it.
The liquid inside an oyster’s shell truly magnifies the taste as well as texture, as well as likewise tells you about where the oyster is from. similar to the terroir that wine-makers talk about, oyster connoisseurs have ‘merroir’—the conditions as well as place that oysters grow in.
Pambula oysters tend to be less salty than their Merimbula relatives, which likewise have higher minerality due to a lot more saline water as well as a sandy lakebed. Also, Broadwater’s oyster lines are in an area with a lot more seagrass, so there’s a lot more sweetness to the oysters.
If you’ve had oysters at a restaurant, possibilities are they won’t have had the original brine inside. a lot of venues rinse their oysters before serving, as well as though you still get a taste of the shellfish, its over all flavour is truly dialled back.
Next we try oysters with a bit lemon as well as then a few toppings including pink finger lime caviar, which is excellent. By the method if you want to discover a lot more about Australian finger limes as well as where they come from, inspect out our story here.
But then Mel shows us a technique that modifications everything.
Forever.
She tells us to pour a bit of our sparkling white wine over our next oyster. The unexpected fizz as well as minor acidity of the champagne does something terrific to the oyster as well as its intense brine.
Definitely something to try next time you have oysters as well as champagne to hand.
Other experiences at Broadwater Oysters
As well as shucking classes, Broadwater uses a few other experiences. They have cheese as well as tasting platters stacked with regional create or trays of freshly shucked oysters to eat on the outside tables here.
You can likewise have full-blown picnic hampers as well as kayak trips around the lake, group events, trips of the farm as well as the chance to satisfy take legal action against McIntyre as well as Greg Carton, the friendly owners of Broadwater.
Broadwater Oysters are the primary provider of Sydney rock Oysters to all surrounding restaurants as well as shops, so whenever you buy oysters in the region, you’re nearly always eating theirs. They likewise offer direct to the public right here at their lakeside farm ‘shellar door’, as well as you can buy on the internet too.
In fact, as soon as we got home, we purchased three lots unshucked oysters (12 of each size—cocktail, choose as well as premium) as well as they shown up in a couple of days.
Sydney rock Oysters can last as much as 10 days out of water. All you have to do is keep them cool, dark as well as damp. A bucket in the laundry with a wet towel over the top does the trick. Don’t put them in the fridge or in water: that will kill them.
If any type of stay open, odor poor or look a bit shrivelled, throw them out. Broadwater provides you a couple additional in each buy just in case.
What is the Sapphire coastline Oyster Trail?
Famous for its oysters, the Sapphire coastline is the location to come if you like these delicacies as well as want to discover a lot more about them.
The Sapphire coastline Oyster path runs from Wapengo just north of Bega down to Wonboyn, 20km from the Victoria border.
All the method along this sensational 100km stretch of coastline, you can experience Sydney rock Oysters in all their forms as well as never fresher.
Check out Sapphire Coast’s top concepts for experiencing this fantastic region for yourself.
Getting to the Sapphire Coast
It’s a six-hour drive from Sydney as well as a seven-hour drive from Melbourne to Merimbula (thankfully there are great deals of choices for an overnighter along the way) as well as just three hours in the cars and truck from Canberra.
You can likewise fly into Merimbula Airport—it’s just over an hour from Sydney as well as Melbourne, however where’s the fun in that?
Christina as well as Jim with owner of Broadwater Oysters, take legal action against McIntyre
We checked out Broadwater Oysters as media guests in partnership with Sapphire coastline Tourism, however our opinions stay our own.