I randomly discovered an oyster bar while walking down Third Avenue in New York about a week ago: Wild Edibles Seafood Market and Wine Bar. The ambiance is very casual, almost alongside the road in Maine kind of ambiance with basic tables and a bar where you can sit, order wine (or wine flights), clam chowder, some oysters or other fresh seafood.
For example, they have the classic starters such as New England and Manhattan Clam Chowder, oyster tempura, crab cakes, something they refer to as Clams Casino (original recipe from Casino Narraganset – 1917), yellowfin tuna tartar and calamari.
While they also do sandwiches, soups and salads, the real reason to come here is for the fresh oysters, which come in a variety of sizes and locations.
For example, from the east coast, they offer Nova Scotia’s Beau Soleils, Long Island’s Blue Points, New Brunswick’s Canada Cups and Caraquets, Hurricane Harbors, Salt Aire, Salutation Coves, Tatamaguchi and Malpeque from Prince Edward Island and Pine Island from New York.
From the west coast, they offer Hama Hama, Hood Canal, Kumamoto, Skookum and Steamboats from Washington, the latter of which they describe as meaty with a clean vegetable finish. (it made me laugh). Hood Canal apparently has “sweet cucumber sensations” while the Skookum is sweet, creamy and rich.
For $15.99, you can get a dozen assorted oysters or one kind specifically with a flight of 3 white wines, which they typically choose for you. On the menu includes a wide array of whites from France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Long Island NY, Germany and Greece. (yes, even Greece, their most expensive wine by the glass: the Domaine Sigalas Asirtiko Athiri from Santorini.
Also on the menu is a Setzer Gruner Veltliner, a Fontanassa Ca Adua Gavi from Italy, the Domaine Geoffroy Cuvee la Marguerite, a Chardonnay/Burgundy, which went really well with my oyster selection.
Also good with them is their Domaine de la Louvetrie Muscadet from Loire Valley in France, surprisingly dry for a Muscadet and not traditional in Muscadet style. (12% alcohol).
I tried the Uva Mira Sauvignon Blanc from Stellenbosch as well which was my least favorite of my tastings. As for the oysters, they were all fabulous, fabulous, fabulous and most definitely fresh for those who don’t think you can get fresh oysters outside of Nova Scotia or Maine’s coast.
Stopping by is a delightful way to spend an hour of your afternoon – winter or summer. Below, he says with a smile, anything else I can get you to try? Helpful and informative, it’s worth a stop.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
