Apalachicola with the OP39 114300. Oysters, anyone?

[El Cascarrabias]

Located on the Gulf of Mexico in northwest Florida and producing one of the all time best tasting oysters, Apalachicola claims to be "The Oyster Capital of the World." It's one of our favorite places to visit due to its uniqueness and great locally harvested fresh seafood.

I thought it only appropriate to take the Oyster Perpetual 39 mm for a day trip.

We're almost there!





Apalachicola Bay is the last place on earth where wild commercial oysters are still collected the old way. At one time 90% of Florida's oysters came from Apalachicola.





That has since changed dramatically due to decreased water flow primarily out of Georgia. The Apalachicola River is formed by the merging of several rivers but mostly the Chattahoochee and the Flint. The enormous water requirements of Atlanta and recent droughts have greatly decreased the oyster harvest in the last 10 years.


We're there!





This is a pile of oyster shells. They eat a lot of'em here!





Apalachicola is a small town of approximately 2,300 people and the main industry is . . . oysters! Shrimping is an also important contributor to the economy.





Since over 80% of the shrimp you buy in your supermarket comes from foreign sources you'll notice a big difference in how locally harvested shrimp taste. Oysters, too!

Apalachicola appears the way Florida once was. This area of Florida has been labeled "The Forgotten Coast." It's quiet, rural and maybe a bit quirky. One of the things we like to do is walk downtown and looking at the small shops and galleries. Here's a quick tour.



















Of course, the old Florida homes that have been restored. My photography doesn't do them justice. And there are dozens more.













But! As much as we enjoy just being there and enjoying the slow pace, we really enjoy eating seafood at The Owl Cafe!





We had reservations by the bayside windows but when we arrived the window seats were not available. However, there are two sides and they were only using one. The hostess took us over and seated us in the side unoccupied. We had the whole room to ourselves. Quiet and romantic!





Steamed oysters came first.





Wife had a light oyster salad (there were more oysters hiding under those). She said the oysters were perfect and all of them were decent size.





I had the corn meal fried flounder over creamed corn. When it arrived the yellow color was a bit overwhelming but it was delicious!





And then . . .

Ta da!!

Owl Cafe's famous chocolate mousse!!

THIS is the real reason we come!!



We were so full and the dessert is so rich we had to split this one. BUT! We took two more to go!

Yeah, it's that good . . .

And now for the money shot!

I had to let the 114300 hang out with his buddies for a few minutes . . .

[carwash66]

Nice pics. Used to do a lot of trout fishing there years ago.

[Apalachicola]

I approve.

[d0190535]

quality meal

[El Cascarrabias]

Originally Posted by Apalachicola

I approve.

Did you live there?

[Colin10101]

Lovely pics! Looks like a great trip. I would love to go there with my oyster one day!

I really enjoy threads like this. It gives you a great sense of the quality of life us Rolex fans are lucky to have, and really makes you appreciate everything that we should be thankful for.

[sickened1]

Nice pics! And those steamed oysters.... Thanks for sharing.

[Otto]

My home, though I've been away a long, long time, is Pensacola. The next time I'm there, I think I'll drive over to Apalachicola. I've always considered it an exotic part of Florida and your photos reaffirm that for me. Nice watch by the way!

[Apalachicola]

Originally Posted by El Cascarrabias

Did you live there?

Nah, but nearly so, over in Mobile and further over in NOLA, and have hung out there for years. It's a great town. I actually picked my name because of the oyster, and not necessarily the city. I'm a landlocked Gulf seafood exile. For my money, the local shellfish, oysters especially, are the best around. I live in CO, and have them flown out, as the opportunity arrives. Glad you had a good trip.

[Zaslice]

Have great memories of a fishing trip I took there years ago. Don't know if it's still there but boss oyster was a fun place to eat

[El Cascarrabias]

Originally Posted by Zaslice

. . . Don't know if it's still there but boss oyster was a fun place to eat

Boss is still there. They have an incredible number of oyster recipes!

Originally Posted by Apalachicola

I actually picked my name because of the oyster, and not necessarily the city.

Now, that's interesting!

Originally Posted by Apalachicola

I'm a landlocked Gulf seafood exile. For my money, the local shellfish, oysters especially, are the best around. I live in CO, and have them flown out, as the opportunity arrives.

That says a lot about the quality of the oysters.

[Zaslice]

Haha that's it!

[watchwatcher]

Cool pics.

[HogwldFLTR]

Great shots!!! Really enjoyed them! Lovely watch as well!!!

[Apalachicola]

Apalachicola oysters, and other Gulf oysters, have taken a tremendous hit in popularity since Katrina. I grew up eating oysters (and everything else) from the area but now live out West. Two chefs in my town who served Gulf oysters have switched to Chesapeake or N. Atlantic oysters, or some West coast varieties. The Apalachicola oyster is usually a little smaller (it takes longer to mature) and less salty than some other varieties. Although it has a bad reputation, undeserved, I'd love to be sitting next to a cooler of them now, a glove, a Rolex and a beer in one hand and a shucking knife in the other. I'm no paid booster, just a guy who loves Gulf food and culture, warts and pearls.

[El Cascarrabias]

Originally Posted by Apalachicola

Apalachicola oysters, and other Gulf oysters, have taken a tremendous hit in popularity since Katrina. I grew up eating oysters (and everything else) from the area but now live out West. Two chefs in my town who served Gulf oysters have switched to Chesapeake or N. Atlantic oysters, or some West coast varieties.

Another reason may be availability. I know that even in Apalachicola the oysters are not always available. We ate at the Owl once and were told they were out. The waitress explained that because of the decreased harvest Mile 13 Seafood basically parceled out what was available for the day to the different restaurants and once they were gone there would be no more until the next day.

Similar to Georgia shrimp. Once I could buy them at my local seafood market. But now, basically, you can only get those sweet shrimp if you live close to the coast.

Originally Posted by Apalachicola

. . . I'd love to be sitting next to a cooler of them now, a glove, a Rolex and a beer in one hand and a shucking knife in the other. I'm no paid booster, just a guy who loves Gulf food and culture, warts and pearls.

I believe it was a restaurant in Virginia Beach that served me a sampling of oysters from six different areas of the US. It was interesting to taste the difference.

But, I'm with you. Love these Gulf oysters!




And, apparently, someone has found a new market . . .



It's actually a pet store but I thought the picture interesting!

[joe100]

The dial to get. Fantastic write up too!