Elliott's Oyster New Year

20th annual oyster free for all

We'll start by saying we're sorry, the oyster new year bash is already over, having taken place on November 3rd. But since it was their 20th annual event and the biggest oyster bash on the West Coast, it's worth talking about.

Funds raised at this year's event benefited the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, a non-profit founded in 1997 that works to restore marine habitat, water quality, and native species in Puget Sound. Elliott's makes a consistent practice or being eco-friendly and this event was no different: they reused or recycled everything possible and composted (thank you Cedar Grove) all shells and food waste.

Oyster New Year is a big event. It takes place at the end of the Elliott's pier, under tents. Once checked in at the "front desk," you run through the gauntlet (tent hallway with tables on either side taken up immediately by people with plates full of oysters), into a lobby area with an oyster shucking demo area and great local ales from Pike Brewing Company and Maritime Pacific.

The lobby had two huge tent rooms off it. One was full of eating/resting tables plus wine, chowder, mussel, bread and dessert tables. The other room had the famous oyster luge--yes, a shucked oyster starts at the top of a luge ice sculpture (from Creative Ice), slips down the frozen slide into someone's waiting (hopefully open) mouth. This huge room was ringed with wineries offering wines that pair beautifully with oysters and other seafood. Each of the 100 wineries brought 2-4 wines to taste--there was no shortage of tasting opportunities. As if the cheerful talking of guests wasn't enough volume-wise, there was also live music.

Washington grows more oysters for the half-shell market than anywhere in the world and this was borne out with the 27 featured Pacific Coast oysters. From Hood Canal to British Columbia and South Puget Sound to Lopez Island, each oyster is unique in look, texture, taste and shape. But Elliott's just can't leave it at oysters alone. There was fresh Dungeness crab, Boston and New England clam chowders, salmon cakes, fresh fruit, fingerling potato bites, Dungeness crab cakes, fresh and smoked salmon, and so much more.

If you've never been to Oyster New Year, consider it for next year. Know it will be very crowded, very loud and a little overwhelming with wait times for food and wine. It's also a big, fun party that people return to year after year. Everyone is in great spirits and loving the oyster! Watch the Elliott's website for the 2013 date.

And if you missed the event this year, but love oysters and the idea of helping maintain Puget Sound, you have a nice option through the end of the year. Go to Elliott's, order a dozen oysters, and they will donate $1 to the Fund. Naturally, you can donate directly to the Fund at any time at www.restorationfund.org 

Connie Adams/November 2012