A Geography of Oysters

by Rowan Jacobsen

The complete guide to understanding, serving, and savoring one of North America’s original and most delicious foods

“The ultimate macropedia for oysters, covering not just geography, but also philosophy, consumerism, epicurean splendor and the proper way to grow a pearl… a movable feast up and down the east and west coasts of North America.”
- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“One of the most remarkable single-subject books to come along in a while…Jacobsen covers oysters in exhaustive detail, but with writing so engaging and sprightly that reading about the briny darlings is almost as compulsive as eating them…this book will improve your oyster eating immeasurably…There may be no more pleasurable food than a raw oyster, there almost certainly is no better guide.”—Los Angeles Times, Russ Parsons

“A wide-ranging, thorough, breezily written guide to oysters as cuisine…Jacobsen leads with his fearless palate every time.” —Boston Globe

“A Geography of Oysters has oyster prose leaping off the page and intothe oyster-lover’s imagination. It is a great read…a must-have for mylibrary…I’ve never met Rowan Jacobsen, but we are brothers under theskin.” —David Rosengarten

About the Book

Considered one of the great sensual foods since the time of ancientRome, eaten in North America since its earliest human habitation,oysters are now seeing an American renaissance. In this passionate,playful, and indispensable guide, longtime oyster aficionado RowanJacobsen takes readers on a delectable tour of the oysters of NorthAmerica. Region by region, he describes each oyster’s appearance,flavor, origin, and availability, as well as explaining how oystersgrow, how to shuck them without losing a finger, how to pair them withwine (not to mention beer), and why they’re one of the only kinds offarmed seafood that are actually good for the earth as well as good foryou. Packed with fabulous oyster recipes, maps, photos, and a colorguide, plus lists of top oyster restaurants, producers, and festivals,A Geography of Oysters is both delightful reading and the guide that oyster lovers of all kinds have been waiting for.

Read this excerpt:  http://www.chow.com/stories/10713