Oysters (In A Box)

This is what the world is coming to as P&J Oyster Co. lays off shuckers and the oil continues to destroy our way of life here in Louisiana. Normally, it would be pretty cool to sit at home and break out our oyster kits from the freezer. This time it was hard to cook and eat these babies without thinking about the boats sitting useless in their docks and all the families wondering what in the hell they are going to do now. 134 years of shucking came to a halt on Friday, so Dave and I pulled out our box o' oysters.

Our oysters came from Crystal Seas Seafood in Pass Christian, MS. As the website notes: these are hand-shucked oysters that are " cryogenically frozen in their own liquor and then glazed to lock in freshness." And what a sight that is to behold! These puppies will stay good in the freezer for up to 12 months, so stock up. Here's where to order. On the back of the box, it says a portion of all sales go to rebuilding programs associated with Louisiana. So, eat oysters, support New Orleans, help rebuild.

So, here's my review of my first experience with oysters in a box. Dave did the cooking, which involved getting the broiler ready and extracting the trays of frozen oysters in the shell from the box. Each box also comes with a package of Romano cheese and a packet of frozen flavored butter. Only one of our boxes came with the cheese and butter, so beware you may have naked oysters (another reason to buy in bulk.) The butter has to be defrosted and applied to each oyster before they go under the broiler. Then you have to add the cheese, generously, as the directions call for and put them under one more time. At the end, you should have a dozen beautifully broiled oysters on the half shell.

I had mine with some saltines and a Pellegrino. They were small, but yummy. And the cheese and butter were flavorful. They didn't taste to rubbery or odd. Overall, you could probably be served these in a restaurant and not know if they were fresh or not before they were broiled. I would eat these again, but I still prefer raw any day, fat and salty with a dipping sauce to clear your sinuses.

Below is a copied source from Lynda BelieveDat Woolard on facebook. It's very informative as to Gulf Information and resources regarding this BP disaster. Thank you to Lynda for compiling all of these great resources:


"For those of you who have the romantic vision of scrubbing turtles and rinsing off pelicans with Kevin Costner or Sean Penn, I'm afraid to tell you (Michael) that it isn't going to happen. The workers BP has hired as well as the volunteers with non-profits working on the response have all had hazmat or wildlife rescue training. If you have those skills, they definitely want you (call Tri-State Rescue: 866-557-1404)... otherwise there is a list of ways you can help below (which I will add to as more info becomes available)... it may be long, but come on man, I've done most of the research for ya... lol.

EASY TO DO: First the simplest thing you can do is text WILDLIFE to 20222 to donate $10 to the National Wildlife Federation. 97% of funds raised through this text drive will go directly to efforts rehabbing animals in the Gulf. (More info: http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Threats-to-Wildlife/Oil-Spill/Mobile-Giving.aspx )

Second easiest thing to do is eat Louisiana seafood. There are still areas that are safe to fish in the Gulf and our fishing communities need the support. Whatever they're catching, go buy ya some!

VOLUNTEER: I did speak with someone at the main response center today and volunteers are needed now. Tasks that untrained people can do include administrative work, taking inventory, pre-beach cleaning (no idea what that means), and translating.

Sign up here: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/page/2931/46359/ and call to follow up if you get antsy: 1-866-448-5816.You can also sign up with one of the various groups working in the area. Efforts seem to be largely coordinated through the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Visit http://www.crcl.org/ and fill out a volunteer form or call 1-800-LACOAST (1-800-522-6278) or 225-767-4181.

Alternately you can see the other groups they are working with and sign up through their websites here: http://lagulfresponse.org/home.html or here: http://action.sierraclub.org/Oil_Spill_CleanUp

Birdwatchers have a special job being asked of them through eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/survey-gulf-coast-birds. They are looking for people to visit beaches and report findings on the state of the birds there... this does not include touching or disturbing the wildlife... watching and monitoring only. You can also have a nice meal at a restaurant in the beach community while you're visiting and help support the locals.

Organize a food drive. I know I've been banging this drum for a year now, but because of state budgetary cuts made last year, our food banks have been depleted for quite some time and need more food than ever now. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana is leading this charge: http://no-hunger.org/ There is information on their website about how to conduct a drive or you can give them a call and they'll be happy to set you up. If you live in Marrero, the West Jefferson Medical Center is collecting cans. Bins for food donations will be located in the hospital's atrium, the Fitness Center, Cafe Jefferson and the Physician's Center through May 31.

Here are some additional specific volunteer hotlines to call: To report oiled shoreline : 866.448.5816 To report oiled wildlife: 866.557.1401 To submit alternative response technology, services or products: 281.366.5511

To submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system: 281.366.5511

Additionally, if you are in an effected area or have a boat and are going out in the Gulf, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade has created an "Oil Spill Crisis Map" that will allow Gulf Coast residents to report fishers out of work, endangered wildlife, oil on shore, oil sheens and other effects of the oil spill. The map can be viewed at http://oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/.

Reports can be made at that site, or by texting 504.272.7645, e-mailing bpspillmap@gmail.com or tweeting with the hashtag #BPspillmap. Eyewitness reports for the map require a description, and location information such as an address or GPS coordinates.And while there is debate as to whether or not these will ever be used (why the heck not, I ask???)

The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans is working with Matter of Trust: http://www.matteroftrust.org/, an environmental nonprofit group, to collect donations of nylons, hair and fur, which can be used in making booms for containing oil. Drop off donations at the Ritz-Carlton, 921 Canal St. Call 504.670.2817 for more information.Monitor other opportunities to volunteer by checking out this group on FB: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=103141509730378

DONATE: These are all fabulous groups working on the oil disaster at various levels. Please support them if you can.Gulf Restoration Network: http://www.healthygulf.org/
Tri-state Bird Rescue: http://www.tristatebird.org/
Voice of the Wetlands: http://www.voiceofthewetlands.org/
Gulf Aid: http://www.gulfaid.org/
Second Harvest: http://no-hunger.org/
Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans: http://www.arch-no.org/
The Greater New Orleans Foundation: http://www.gnof.org/

LEGISLATIVE : Without getting into the politics of offshore drilling, there is still a very important piece of legislation that calls to your congressperson and senators could help. Right now an effort to up the liability cap for oil companies is stalled. Your calls can make a difference. Find your congressman here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml and your senator here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

See story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/03/robert-menendez-pushes-bi_n_561011.html and here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/25/gulf-oil-spill-frustratio_n_588556.html

STAY INFORMED

Finally, I have to say there are too many sources of info on this issue to list, but there's a pretty comprehensive list of what the Obama administration has done so far here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/5/23/869212/-What-Obama-is-doing-about-the-BP-oil-spill (P.S. Glad he's coming to Louisiana this Friday cos I still want more!). And if you're on twitter, you can get the latest here: http://twitter.com/Oil_Spill_2010.

Also, for those of you in my district, I have to say Congressman Cao is on top of this thing and has been a great source of information. Check it out and sign up for updates here: http://josephcao.house.gov/OilSpill/"

Oil Spill Closing Beaches and Killing Marshes

The beach at Louisiana’s Grand Isle State Park was closed because of oil, according to a listing yesterday on the state Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism’s website. The state Department of Wildlife & Fisheries also announced additional recreational and commercial fishing closings yesterday.

Pictured: Paper Plate Covered in Oil on Beach, From AudubonMagazine.org

Read full article about Grand Isle Beach Closings.

"Billy Nungesser, president of Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish, toured the oil-polluted marshes of Plaquemines Parish on Wednesday and said:"Had you fallen off that boat yesterday and come up breathing that stuff, you probably wouldn't be here today.

Oil started washing ashore in Louisiana this week, approximately 50 miles northwest from where the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and sank. In a part of Plaquemines Parish in an estuary called Pass a Loutre, reeds in the marshlands that were normally green with life, are now brown and dead, saturated with oil. P.J. Hahn, the director of the Parish Coastal Zone Management Department, reflecting on the environmental disaster:"It's so sad when you look around here and you just think of what was here, what's happening to it now and what's eventually gonna happen to it. Unless we stop that oil out there, it's just going to continue to keep coming in here and wipe out everything we have. ... I think we're just starting to see the first wave of what's really coming and what's really coming I think is going to be devastating."

Environmentalists are especially concerned about Louisiana's Breton National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1904 by President Theodore Roosevelt, it's the second-oldest refuge in the country. Located north of the parish, the refuge is part of the Chandeleur Islands which are situated in the Gulf of Mexico. A nesting ground for tens of thousands of birds, including the brown pelican, the marshland has for time immemorial provided a sanctuary for the wildlife of this region. '

-From Examiner.com