Shaw's Downtown: 25¢ Oysters on Half-Shell @Mon April 26 4pm

Heading over to Shaw's for 25¢ oysters on half-shell, if anyone is interested in joining.

The special runs from 3pm-6pm, so if you can start earlier, please do so and grab a spot for the rest of us.

Here is the flyer:
http://www.shawscrabhouse.com/events/de ... ondays.pdf

21 E Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312)527-2722

http://www.shawscrabhouse.com/chicago/index.shtml

Ready to throw down a couple dozen!!!

so this has been going on monday nights for the past few weeks. anyone been there? is it a madhouse?

boudreaulicious wrote:Ready to throw down a couple dozen!!!

Me, too!

teatpuller wrote:so this has been going on monday nights for the past few weeks. anyone been there? is it a madhouse?

Join us, and find out this Monday.

Shaw's did this 25 cent/oyster deal a few months ago, and I was sorely tempted then as I am now, though I have a dinner Monday night, so probably should not do what I want to do, which is eat a hundred or two and then have a full meal. I have been imagining how it was that reported dinners of Henry VIII and others of his epoch/rank began with a few hundred oysters per person. Usually, it'd be pretty expensive to eat 100+ oysters, but at a quarter a pop, $25-50 seems a small price to pay for this noble gastronomic experiment in gluttony.

I called Shaw's earlier this year to confirm that one could, if one wished, order a few hundred oysters, and they confirmed that indeed one could, no problem.

David Hammond wrote:Shaw's did this 25 cent/oyster deal a few months ago, and I was sorely tempted then as I am now, though I have a dinner Monday night, so probably should not do what I want to do, which is eat a hundred or two and then have a full meal.

A hundred is less than 10 dozens, easily done. Capped off with a nice bowl of tummy warming chowder with a dash of stringent Tabasco. I have to agree, a full dinner after that may be a little over the top.

So instead of a couple hundreds, maybe just one hundred to properly start the evening, a little amuse bouche?

David Hammond wrote:I have been imagining how it was that reported dinners of Henry VIII and others of his epoch/rank began with a few hundred oysters per person.

Errr...began with oysters before what...marriages, divorces, beheadings?

petite_gourmande wrote:

David Hammond wrote:Shaw's did this 25 cent/oyster deal a few months ago, and I was sorely tempted then as I am now, though I have a dinner Monday night, so probably should not do what I want to do, which is eat a hundred or two and then have a full meal.

A hundred is less than 10 dozens, easily done. Capped off with a nice bowl of tummy warming chowder with a dash of stringent Tabasco. I have to agree, a full dinner after that may be a little over the top.

I believe it was Brillat-Savarin who speculated that oysters could be eaten in such massive quanitites before dinner because they were low in nutritive value.

FWIW, I'm pretty sure I saw a similar deal offered by some other Chicago restaurant in the coming week, but I can't locate the source.

I have a friend who I believe recently ate 100+ in one sitting (or something close to that). In the end I believe she was full, but even more so, she was just sick of oysters.

I believe it was Brillat-Savarin who speculated that oysters could be eaten in such massive quanitites before dinner because they were low in nutritive value.

That's because he didn't know how good they are for you. (Unless you're afraid of sodium, that is ).

Katie wrote:

I believe it was Brillat-Savarin who speculated that oysters could be eaten in such massive quanitites before dinner because they were low in nutritive value.

That's because he didn't know how good they are for you. (Unless you're afraid of sodium, that is ).

Or cholesterol, but right, yes, he was speaking before the days of lab-based nutritional analysis.

I think you can eat a lot of oysters before dinner because, you know, they're small.

David Hammond wrote:
FWIW, I'm pretty sure I saw a similar deal offered by some other Chicago restaurant in the coming week, but I can't locate the source.

The new spot, Benny's--Wed. nights, 5:00-7:00

http://tastingtable.com/entry_detail/ch ... od_set.htm

David Hammond wrote:Shaw's did this 25 cent/oyster deal a few months ago, and I was sorely tempted then as I am now

Tempting as Shaw's pristine oysters for 25 cents each may be, the thought of 10-deep at the bar packed in like sardines will keep me away.

G Wiv wrote:

David Hammond wrote:Shaw's did this 25 cent/oyster deal a few months ago, and I was sorely tempted then as I am now

Tempting as Shaw's pristine oysters for 25 cents each may be, the thought of 10-deep at the bar packed in like sardines will keep me away.

Go at 3. Get a table. Order a few hundred. Easy.

David Hammond wrote:

G Wiv wrote:

David Hammond wrote:Shaw's did this 25 cent/oyster deal a few months ago, and I was sorely tempted then as I am now

Tempting as Shaw's pristine oysters for 25 cents each may be, the thought of 10-deep at the bar packed in like sardines will keep me away.

Go at 3. Get a table. Order a few hundred. Easy.

I hope to nab a couple of spots at the oyster bar. I love to watch the pros at work, covers flying as they pry through bushels of them suckers.

Boudreaulicious and I went through about 8 dozens before we hit the wall. Whew!

B nabbed some seats for us at the oyster bar, so it was lots of fun watching the hustle and bustle as well as sharing with our neighbors.

The first 6 dozens were from Calm Cove, WA. The first 3 dozens were kind of tired looking until they went through the older inventory, then the last 3 dozens were fresh and luscious. Full of sweet briny liquor.

Calm Cove Oysters : http://www.pcsga.org/Grower_Profiles/Gr ... Grower=103

The last 2 dozens where Blue Points from the East coast. When I inquired about the difference, one of the assistant manager type, said that it wasn't on the list. The event was so popular, they went through most of the inventory, and this is what was left.

The Calm Cove has a sharper clean briny ocean on the front, then creamy from the fatty meat. The Blue Point is a rounder variety, reminiscent of Belons. Creamier and sweeter on the front, but leaner on the back end. Does not have the sharp clean ocean brininess that I prefer, subjective though. B preferred the Blue Point.

The guys next to us went through more than 12 dozens, then a wife showed up and they ordered 3 more dozens, where one dozen is Taylor Kummamto. They shared their Kummamotos with us, and what a beautiful difference. Delicate richness with just the right touch of sweet ocean and salinity. No comparison.

What a great time, and such gluttony. The staff was very accomodating despite the frenetic pace, especially during the last hour when everyone tries to make the last happy hour.

Seven dozen oysters and a half gallon of stout—a good snack before dinner. I wasn't familiar with Harpoon Brewery's Oyster Stout but thought it was an excellent match for the bivalve mollusks. Only later did I find out this limited edition beer was actually brewed with freshly shucked oysters added to the boil. So I guess I might've had more than 84.

84+ oysters! Now I am inspired to see if I can do better than 4 dozens at trip to Benny's Wednesday 25¢ oysters. Very curious about the quality and variety they will be serving at Benny's. The cocktail list looks great, the Prodigal Sum, sounds delish! No oysters in any of the mixers, but should go nicely with oysters, no?

petite_gourmande wrote:84+ oysters! Now I am inspired to see if I can do better than 4 dozens at trip to Benny's Wednesday 25¢ oysters. Very curious about the quality and variety they will be serving at Benny's. The cocktail list looks great, the Prodigal Sum, sounds delish! No oysters in any of the mixers, but should go nicely with oysters, no?

Downed a few dozen at Benny's yesterday:



They were Chef's Creek, shallow shell, meaty, some liquor, good flavor and an excellent value (@ two bits a piece). Enjoyed with an oyster stout (a special at $6/bottle). Oysters came with mignonette sauce (which I liked) and regular cocktail sauce (which was fine), as well as lemon and bread. A good deal...but get there early if you want a seat.

David Hammond wrote:
Downed a few dozen at Benny's yesterday:

They were Chef's Creek, shallow shell, meaty, some liquor, good flavor and an excellent value. Enjoyed with an oyster stout (a special at $6/bottle). Oysters came with mignonette sauce (which I liked) and regular cocktail sauce (which was fine), as well as lemon and bread. A good deal...but get there early if you want a seat.

They look pretty meaty with a smidge of liquor. $6 stout is pretty good deal, too. Thanks for the report.

Will have to check them out very soon. Was planning on stopping by yesterday, but got caught up with work.

For those of you that are on the northside, Chicago Joe's has 50 cent oysters all day and night on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It's a little easier than paying $30 to park downtown, and although I have yet to have a remotely edible meal at Joe's, the oysters are decent for the price. The chili isn't the worst thing I've ever had either. It's also never been busy when I've been in there to stuff my belly with mutidozens of oysters.

bella54330 wrote:For those of you that are on the northside, Chicago Joe's has 50 cent oysters all day and night on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It's a little easier than paying $30 to park downtown, and although I have yet to have a remotely edible meal at Joe's, the oysters are decent for the price. The chili isn't the worst thing I've ever had either. It's also never been busy when I've been in there to stuff my belly with mutidozens of oysters.

not the ringing endorsement I'd look for in a place I'd want to consume raw shellfish I think... $2.25 for the red line and 25 cent oysters @ shaw's still remain the bargain of the day for me!!

boudreaulicious wrote:

not the ringing endorsement I'd look for in a place I'd want to consume raw shellfish I think... $2.25 for the red line and 25 cent oysters @ shaw's still remain the bargain of the day for me!!

$30 or public transportation seems a small price to pay for a trusted source when it comes to oysters.

Did anyone note that Monday's at Shaw's has been extended through the end of the year?
I just got an e-mail from them.
Sorry if I'm late to the party