OYSTER PRIMER/BEV PAIRINGS

Oysters on Half shell (priced per oyster)

*Oyster selection changes daily*

·         JCT Bar will offer a selection of various oysters served with a house made mignonette.

o    Mignonette- apple cider vinegar, red pepper, shallots.

o    Garnished with hot sauce, buttered premium crackers, lemon & cocktail sauce (topped with shaved horseradish

There are over 150 varieties of Oysters harvested and sold in North America, yet they are comprised of only 5 species of Oysters

Pacific Oysters- Crassostrea Gigas  (Alternative names: Japanese Oyster, Creuse (France), Miyagi examples: Penn Cove Select, Fanny Bay, Kusshi, Totten Inlet, Sweetwater...)	The Pacific oyster is the most common variety as it is environmentally tolerant and grows fairly rapidly. For this reason, its cultivation has spread from the coasts of Japan where it originates to North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It’s so closely related to the Kumamoto, that they are often mistaken for each other in its shell shape as well as taste.  Pacifics have a distinctly more fluted, sharply pointed shell than Atlantics or European flats.
Kumamoto Oysters- Crassostrea Sikamea	The Kumamoto oyster originated in Yatsushiro Bay, Kumamoto Prefecture, but is now mostly cultivated in the United States. It is smaller than its European counterparts and sports a deep, bowl-like shell. Flavour-wise, it has a mild brininess and is sweet in taste likened to the Hami melon, which makes it perfect for those who are new to enjoying oysters.
Atlantic Oysters- Crassostrea Virginia  (Alternative names: Eastern Oyster, Virginica; examples: Blue Point, Malpeque, Wellfleet)	The Atlantic oyster, also known as Eastern oyster is tear-shaped and flatter than the Pacific oyster, with a heavy salty taste. Two of the better-known Atlantic oyster varieties are from Blue Point in Long Island New York and Wellfleet oysters which grow in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The former is known for its robust notes while the latter is relished for its strong briny flavour and a seaweed-like note at the finish.
European Flat Oysters- Ostrea Edulis  (Alternative Names: Belon; examples: Maine Belon)	We will rarely carry this type of creamy/full flavored oyster. They are great with Champagne.
Olympia Oysters - Ostrea Ludrida/Ostrea Conchaphila  (Alternative names: Oly,  )	These are the only oyster originally native to the West coast. Wild populations are strictly protected, but they are cultivated for market in the Puget Sound and British Colombia. Olympia oysters are tiny and almost extinct right now, hence it is the least common type of oyster found in this day and age. Typically sweet, coppery/metallic in flavor.

Pairing Oysters with Beverages

Sparkling Wine and Champagne Bubbles and oysters go together like PB & J. The bubbles provide textural contrast while the acidity helps cut through the creaminess. A great option is a glass or bottle of Crémant de Limoux; Crémant is a non-Champagne sparkling wine produced in the city of Limoux in Southwest France. It’s made primarily with Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay grapes.	It has a crisp acidity and small bubbles that go down nicely with... ·         Fanny Bays ·         Little Shemagoes ·         Sweet Amalias.
Chablis Chablis, one of the best wine regions in France, is compromised of 19 different towns. This wine is made with Chardonnay grapes, and it gets its terroir, and perhaps its perfect pairing with oysters, from soil that was once an ocean floor. In fact, sea fossils can still be found there.	Chablis’ mineral composition and palate-cleansing acidity make it perfect for ... ·         Northeastern oysters.
Sancerre A Sauvignon Blanc with vibrant acidity, hailing from the Loire Valley in France, this wine is a safe bet for pairing with East Coast oysters. Then again, you can rarely go wrong with a selection from the Loire Valley.	If you take your oyster with Tabasco or red wine vinegar, this wine is for you.
Pouilly Fume A dry French white wine made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes, not to be confused with Pouilly Fuissé, which is made with Chardonnay grapes. This wine is also made in the Loire Valley and has a similar flavor profile to Sancerre.	It’s perfect for lean and briny... ·         East Coast oysters.
Muscadet Another wine hailing from the Loire Valley, but compromised of Melon de Bourgogne grapes. Opt for a glass or bottle that's labeled ‘sur lie.’ The wine will have a deeper flavor, as it has been aged on the spent yeast and sediment that result after fermentation. This very dry wine pairs well with Stellar Bays and Kumamotos.	Its clean and crisp flavor profile will render the need for a squeeze of lemon or mignonette null, so eat your oysters bare if you're pairing them with this wine.
Riesling A zesty alternative to the French Sauvignon.	A dryer iteration of this wine from Germany pairs well with meaty and creamy ... ·         Northwest Canadian oysters.
Vinho Verde A very affordable, easy drinking, Portuguese wine with lively acidity, effervescence and beautiful aromatics that's been making its way onto more menus recently. The name translates to "young wine," and refers to the fact that these wines are best enjoyed right after they've been bottled.	It goes well with ... ·         Kumamotos.
Gin A Hendricks Martini and a Hendricks Gin & Tonic are both great cocktail choices.	Pair  with creamy, West Coast oysters. The subtle cucumber notes of Hendricks will compliment oysters with cucumber notes of their own, like... ·         Kumamotos ·         Kusshis ·         Miyagis.
Stout Stouts and oysters are a historical pairing, dating back to Victorian England. The term "oyster stout" used to reference the drinking ritual of taking sips of stout beer in between slurps of oysters.	A very briny oyster from the Northwestern Canadian region will perfectly contrast the bitterness of a stout while the creamy texture of the beer and the oyster complement each other.
Sherry No, not the syrupy kind you’re thinking of. Go for a crisp Manzanilla.	One of the driest wines in the world, whose salinity and acidity are a great compliment to most oysters!