New Orleans Oyster Festival is June 1 & 2

We are overjoyed that it’s time for the New Orleans Oyster Festival, now in its third year. Celebrating the Gulf oyster will be easier than ever this weekend, as more than 20 restaurants (and Louisiana Restaurant Association members) will deliver a variety of dishes featuring the delicious, plump bi-valve to thousands of festival goers.

Whether you’ve grown up in Louisiana, or you’ve been around these parts for a while, you might have heard that indulging in Gulf oysters in months that don’t contain the letter “r” is ill advised. But oystermen, chefs and fans, beg to differ. In fact, Gulf oysters are at the peak of perfection during the month of June. Who knew? Well, we did and we can’t get enough.

Whether you desire an oyster poboy or the highly adored charbroiled oysters, the place to be this weekend is Woldenburg Park on the Mississippi River. If you’re daring to try something totally different, don’t miss shrimp and oyster eggrolls, oyster fois gras, pepper jelly oysters, oyster dressing stuffed mushrooms, oyster quesadillas and so many others.

Entertainment includes a slew of rockin’ bands and Saturday, join P&J Oysters for their Shucking Contest. On Sunday, the main event is Acme Oyster House’s Oyster Eating Contest. To close out the festival line up Sunday, the Gin Blossoms are playing. No doubt, their hit tune “Hey Jealousy” will be a popular one for your envious and not in attendance friends.

Until then, dream of the oyster and visit the festival site to plan your buffet of options.