Writer Charity Robey will draw on her work on the culinary history of oysters to lead a discussion with East End oyster farmers at the library’s next Friday Night Dialogues.
Entitled “Aw, Shucks: Oyster farmers dish on Peconic aquaculture,” the event takes place Friday, March 11 at 7 PM.
Did you ever wonder:
- Why oysters are different shapes?
- What makes oysters taste differently?
- What does an oyster farmer do?
Tune via Zoom to find out when Robey speaks with panelists Ben Gonzalez of Southold Bay Oysters, Stefanie Bassett of Little Ram Oysters, and Phil Mastrangelo of Oysterponds.
About oyster farming
A century ago, New York oysters were a commodity, eaten by everyone, cheap and as readily available as a bag of chips. So how is today’s oyster different? Robey and her guests will discuss the differences in appearance and taste in oysters grown in different conditions and how NY oysters are different from other cultivated oysters.
They’ll also talk about why oyster aquaculture is growing in NY and some challenges. Finally, the event will showcase some of the panelist’s cultivated oysters for illustration and comparison, but alas, not for sampling.
About Charity Robey
Robey, known locally for her profiles and other work in The Shelter Island Reporter, is a widely published journalist and food historian.
She wrote an influential article in The New York Times about the die-off of Peconic Bay scallops in 2019. It helped bring attention to the links between the health of Long Island’s wild shellfish and human-induced climate change.
This spring, the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery will publish her paper on how New York farmers create perfect oysters. In addition, she’s a programming chair for the Culinary Historians of New York.
Robey’s writing is rich; she shows a passion for her subject and gets you involved in that passion. She helps you to learn more about what makes her subjects tick. I look forward to her doing the same with this group.
Please register for “Aw, shucks!” using the library’s online form at least 30 minutes before the program starts. If you need more information or have questions, contact Jocelyn Ozolins at 631-749-0042.
Next up: Pat LaMarche on homelessness, Friday, March 18 at 7 PM
Donald Regan is a trustee of the Shelter Island Public Library.
