Today is all about oysters!
And now is the perfect time to talk about them, since fall is when oysters start to really fatten up and reach their true potential as part of your autumn seafood feast. These salty little bivalves have quite a following here on Topsail Island. Specifically, we are famous for the Stump Sound Oyster - which is known to be deliciously meaty & salty – everything an oyster should be!
Stump Sound is found in a shallow lagoon on the northwest side of Topsail Island (learn more about Stump Sound and what makes its oysters famous in this great article by Our State Magazine).
Stump Sound oysters are plucked from the ocean by hand. Here are three local companies that specialize in the harvesting of oysters from Topsail Island and the surrounding areas:
Middle Sound Mariculture LLC
"Family owned and operated oyster farm striving to bring a fresh and sustainable oyster to your table."
Three Little Spats Oyster Co.
"... only after a rigorous culling process based on our six point test, does a Permuda Island Select make it to market."
Falling Tide Oyster Co.
"...a family owned seafood company using contemporary aquaculture methods to grow premium shellfish in North Carolina."
On the menu
The companies above sell their oysters to our local restaurants, which is where you can try them in their many forms!
Oysters can be steamed, roasted, grilled, fried, and even eaten raw - the purest way to really taste the salty sea.
The Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar is one of the BEST place to try fresh oysters on Topsail Island (click here to learn more).
You can get Oysters On The Half Shell, Steamed, Chargrilled, Jalapeno Cheddar or Parmesan Garlic (both are topped with Bacon).
Want to cook them yourself?
It seems intimidating, but it's quite satisfying to crack open a fresh oyster and enjoy the process of preparing this jewel of the sea.
We are going to link you up once again to Rachel Carter's blog (she is our real estate photograper!) because she passionately describes exactly how to prepare oysters - and she lists several places to buy them, too.
BLOG - How to Prepare Raw Oysters on the Half Shell
Click here to read Southern Living's yummy article – 4 Delicious Ways to Cook Oysters
So, how do you feel about oysters? Are you ready to visit Topsail Island and try our famous Stump Sound variety? Fall and winter are the best time to do it, which is great, because that just happens to coincide with an awesome time to visit Topsail Island. Fall is when our rental prices drop and our weather is simply amazing.
Please contact Ward Realty at any time to see if we have your favorite vacation rental ready for you. With almost 300 homes in our inventory, we are sure to have the perfect home for you.
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