March 31, 2016
Courtesy of Oyster House/for PhillyVoice
Each year Oyster House throws a shucking competition.
Center City's Oyster House will host its annual "Shuck Fest" on Sunday, April 17, beginning at noon. For 2016, the restaurant is expanding the event to include more than just an oyster shucking competition.
Owner Sam Mink stated in a press release that he wanted to create an "indoor Oyster Carnival" with the competition as the main event.
Additions include oyster shucking tutorials, an oyster tasting with local growers, oyster shell kids crafts, wine and beer pairings, a photo booth and a New England-inspired food menu.
The first event at the festival will be Oyster House's shuckers teaching attendees how to properly open oysters, then local growers from Blue Island, Cape May Salts, Forty North and Sweet Amalia will offer tastings.
Before the shucking competition begins at 2 p.m., sample beers from Narragansett and cocktails from Philadelphia Distilling featuring Bluecoat American Dry Gin and Bay Vodka, or learn to pair wines from the experts at Moore Brothers.
The competition will feature professional shuckers from the Philly area competing against Oyster House shuckers. Amateurs will also have a chance to test their skills.
Spectators will be treated to the freshly shucked oysters until the competition ends at 4 p.m.
Admission to the event is $10 for adults, while kids are free.
