The beginning of September means The Tabasco® British Oyster Opening Championship, a long established event initially created to celebrate the start of the native oyster season, but now a significant competition that identifies the UK’s finest (and fastest) oyster openers.
At this year’s (the 19th) competition the UK’s fifteen finest oyster shuckers each opened 30 oysters working against the clock. The winner, Fredrik Lindfors of the Fish Shop, finished with a stunning time of 3 minutes 35 seconds – that’s a tiny bit over 7 seconds an oyster. He goes on to represent Britain in the World Championship at the end of September. Fredrik made yesterday his 4th win in the last 6 years, a close second was Corrigan’s representative, Christian Macovei and Michael Dawson of West Mersea Oysters was awarded 3rd place.
The venue for this year’s competition was Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill on Swallow Street where a crowd of over 100 cheered the fifteen professional oyster openers as they battled for the British title. Guests included Larry Lamb, Tara Fitzgerald, Katie Waissel and many famous faces from the hospitality industry. They celebrated the opening of the season in true style enjoying the classic combination of Champagne Moutard and Loch Ryan oysters served with an invigorating splash of Tabasco® Pepper Sauce.
Loch Ryan reports that it looks like being a very good year for oysters with supplies plentiful and keenly priced.
Tabasco Pepper Sauce
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