26 Before 26: Eat an Oyster

In my 26th year of life, I am attempting 26 new things that I’ve never done before. Full list here.

A couple of weeks ago (my blogging timeliness has really fallen by the wayside, folks), a couple of friends and I ventured out to a new cocktail bar in Brooklyn called the Bellwether. I subscribe to an email list in New York called Thrillist. They send out daily emails of amazing places to eat and drink in New York. They have never steered me wrong. The email I received from them about Bellwether was entitled “Oysters in the Front, Party in the Back.” I had found the place to try my first oyster.

The neighborhood we walked through was a bit sketchy. Abandoned lots, warehouses, then (as is Brooklyn’s style) a bunch of cute, trendy bars and restaurants. When we walked into Bellwether, I saw behind the bar, alongside the requisite bottles of alcohol, was a section of the bar on ice, full of oysters. We ordered our drinks (I opted for my standby Manhattan), and I ordered the oyster platter. There were three varieties on the plate, and as the bartender told me them, I nodded along pretending to know the difference, but actually had no idea what she was talking about. I think one of the varieties was from Martha’s Vineyard? Fun fact. It was only a couple of years ago that I learned that Martha’s Vineyard is not a vineyard in Napa Valley. Nope. Not at all.

The oysters were lovely and tasted like eating gooey, mucousy ocean. I liked the sauces that were paired with it, and it was an interesting experience to eat something that was so oceany. I had one of those synesthesia moments, like how Chai tastes like Christmas to me. Christmas doesn’t have a flavor. Oceans aren’t edible. But it’s that in-the-moment undefinable knowledge that those two things must be somehow linked. Oysters are like slurping ocean!

That being said, I didn’t love them. I didn’t dislike them either. I think the whole chilled seafood thing threw me for a loop, and I felt awkward slurping them. After all, it was such a nice little cocktail bar, and I felt like I wasn’t using my proper table manners. I liked them though and am anxious to try some of the other more legendary oyster bars in New York.