The Pearls of Montauk
The Finest Oysters in the World?
You Decide!
On the eastern most point of Long Island, you will find the incredible collaboration of a fisherman and a marine biologist: Montauk Shellfish Company, home of the Montauk Pearl Oyster. Mike Martinson and Mike Doall, owner-operators of Montauk Shellfish Co., are dedicated to growing the finest oyster you have ever tasted and they are succeeding! Their unique farming methods produce perfect tear-drop shells and the cleanest oysters you have ever tasted.
What makes the oysters so perfect is they grow them in floating bags connected to trawl lines. Keeping the oysters at the surface ensures a constant supply of phytoplankton, which feeds the oysters well as they grow. The fat, sweet meat of the oyster is clean tasting because the sun’s rays keep any kind of bacteria ‘burned’ away from the oysters. The briny flavor in these delicacies truly brings the heart of the ocean to your palette.
The location of the farm, being in the pristine, cold Atlantic waters as far east as New York goes, provides the ideal environment for oysters. The constant coaxing of the ocean against the shells create a polished, perfect shape that is the envy of all oyster farmers. The last step in the process is to place the oysters in cages off Block Island Sound where they will spend their last few months before harvesting, giving them what Doall and Martinson call an ‘ocean finish’.
Chefs all around New York City clamor for these oysters, which have a distinctive black stripe across the shell. The oysters are delivered within 24 hours of harvesting, ensuring the freshest and top quality product you can find in the world. Next time you are in New York, keep your eyes open for Montauk Pearl oysters and you won’t be disappointed!
By LA DiNardi
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