Raw Talent

Gin martini? Check. Ice cold raw oysters? Check. Corner bar? You know it.

In honor of Mother's Day, which my mom spent in Boston visiting my brother (so really in honor of the East Coast in general...) I sipped a Plymouth Gin martini with anchovy-stuffed olives and slurped Chesapeake oysters at A.W. Shucks. I can't think of a better way to start a night out!

Oysters are a favorite treat, another vehicle that provides for some of the better sauce creations. A.W. Shucks has the best cocktail sauce: you can actually taste the lemon zest and fresh-shaved horseradish. We've been here for oysters a few times now, and once for burgers, though they were seriously overshadowed by the still-sizzling french fries, all the better for salt to stick.

Seated at the bar, you get a great view of the trough of ice that runs down the length of it, filled with fresh oysters. The sampler featured Fanny Bay (BC), Quilcene (WA) and Chesapeake (VA) and while all were delish, the Fanny Bay were fantastic. Some fresh lemon, some cocktail sauce, a little extra horseradish...mmmmm....