What is the Shuck & Savor Airbnb Experience?

Delaware Ave Oyster House is pleased to present an oyster shucking Airbnb experience unlike any other. We are a family-owned restaurant that is honored to be a part of Long Beach Island’s locally sustainable restaurant culture. Our oysters and seafood are caught locally and brought to the table daily in the form of fresh and modern tapas-style apps and shared plates. The Airbnb experience is a one-of-a-kind deep dive into oyster culture. With 4 stages designed to cover all parts of oyster culture, you’ll be an expert in no time!

Learn About Oysters

First, we start out with a summary of the types, regions, and seasonalities of the oysters. Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, is quoted as having said, “He was a bold man that first ate an oyster”. The word oyster first appeared in English during the 14th century, but oysters have been farmed in both Japan and Rome since ancient times.

In the 19th century, oyster beds in New York Harbor were the largest source of oysters worldwide. On any given day, six million oysters could be found on barges tied up along the city’s waterfront. These oysters helped initiate the city’s restaurant trade. New York’s oystermen became skilled cultivators of the oyster beds. This provided employment for hundreds of workers and nutritious food for thousands.

Oysters’ current popularity has put increasing demands on wild oyster stocks. The scarcity has increased prices, making oysters less of a working-class food and more of an expensive delicacy.

Step-by-step Shucking Demo

Zora Neale Hurston, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, once wrote “No, I do not weep at the world—I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.” She references the special knives for opening live oysters, referred to as “oyster-shucking.” Our experts will provide a professional shucking demonstration, complete with safety basics and an overview of proper shucking tools. Oyster-shucking has actually become a competitive sport, with competitions staged around the world. Professional shuckers require fewer than three seconds to open the shell. The World Oyster Opening Championship is held every year in September at the Galway International Oyster Festival in Galway, Ireland.

Taste and Build Bites

Next, you’ll have the opportunity to taste the oysters and learn how to build dishes. We’ll give you an overview on pairing and serving, both with toppings and with wine, beer, or cocktails. In Victorian England, people would often go to the pub and enjoy their favorite beer with some oysters. They soon realized that the “rich, sweet, malty stouts” were great with the “briny, creamy oyster”.

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Finally, you’ll get an in-depth explanation on where to buy, how to store, and how to serve oysters, as well as other recommendations. Round everything out with a photo op!

For an unforgettable day discovering the art of shucking and the science of pairing flavors, an oyster-shucking Airbnb experience has everything you could ask for!