Oysters: A Culinary Celebration

"''A loaf of bread, ' the Walrus said, 'is what we chiefly need: Pepper and vinegar, besides, are very good, indeed-Now, if you're ready, Oysters dear, We can begin to feed.'"
"-Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
Rarely has a cookbook so thoroughly addressed its subject in such charming detail. Joan Reardon has uncovered not only every creative recipe for preparing oysters, but every elusive fact and helpful hint. In addition, the pages of this book are sprinkled with quotations from famous oyster lovers throughout the ages, from Shakespeare to Julia Child. With erudition and elegance, Reardon provides over 185 recipes-old and new, featuring traditional American cuisine, as well as adventurous side trips to the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Such tidbits make Oysters much more than a cookbook; it is a true cooking companion.
With its color identification section, displaying photographs of North America's most distinctive oysters, and its glossary, defining dozens of varieties, Oysters allows anyone to order with confidence and authority in any restaurant or oyster bar. Reardon's recipes span the spectrum for every course of a meal. From soups to salads to entrees, the variety of flavor and style will enable any cook to celebrate these delectable gems of the sea. Oysters is an essential and deeply pleasurable volume for every person who appreciates this most tender and delicate seafood.