January Oyster Of The Month: Witch Ducks From Virginia At The Grand Central Oyster Bar

The New Year is here, and the January Oyster of the Month is the Witch Duck from Virginia at the Grand Central Oyster Bar, so decreed by executive chef Sandy Ingber.

The Bishop of Bivalves says that the premium oysters grown in the historic Lynnhaven River are great winter offerings, and are priced at $2.15 per oyster.

The oysters are produced in the famous Virginia river which is in very close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The Witch Duck is a product of the Rappahannock Oyster Co., the third piece in their trilogy of heirloom oysters.

The Grand Central Oyster Bar serves 4,000 oysters daily from 30 varieties, served on the half shell, roasted, broiled, Rockefeller-style, and in pan roasts and stews.

Log on to www.oysterbarny.com to check out the Oyster Bars daily menu. Celebrating its 99th year in 2012, the Grand Central Oyster Bar is open for lunch beginning at 11:30 AM through the last evening reservation at 9:30 PM. For reservations call 212.490.6650.

For more info on Rappahannock Oyster Co, check out their website at www.rroysters.com, Facebook sites: https://www.facebook.com/Rappahannock and https://www.facebook.com/Merroir or twitter @RROysters and @Merroir, or call 804-204-1709, email at sales@rroysters.com.

About the Witch Duck: Grown under the watchful eye of local oyster farmer Cameron Chalmers, Witch Ducks offer up the simple salty taste of the Bay that was long regarded as one of the most upper echelon of oyster varieties. Says owner Travis Croxton Witch Ducks take the cool ocean salt and cut it ever so slightly with a freshwater sweetness to give you the flavor of the sea without the smack of salt. Were truly honored to be offering this oyster to connoisseurs once again, as its literally been unavailable since the 1920s.

About the Rappahannock Oyster Company: Has become one of the worlds premier oyster companies with a history dating back 112 years, owners who have been recognized as top food talents by Food & Wine Magazine, and a namesake oyster listed as One of a Dozen Oysters You Should Know by the industry bible, A Geography of Oysters. In the 10 years since current owners (and cousins) Ryan and Travis Croxton took the reigns at Rappahannock, the company has led nothing short of a Chesapeake Bay renaissance taking the Bay oyster, which had been relegated to commodity markets, and placing it proudly on the best menus in the world. And where there were no companies in the Bay area practicing sustainable aquaculture, there are now dozens. The Croxton cousins have broadened the companys offerings to include clams and 6 different oyster varieties (grown throughout the Bay region Rappahannocks, Stingrays, Olde Salts, Witch Ducks, Snow Hills and Barcats) as well as the East Coasts first sustainable shucked oyster product Barcat Shucks.