DC on the Half Shell
Monday, March 18, 2024
5:30-9:00 p.m.
Dock 5 at Union Market
1309 5th Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
Directions
Valet will be available at the 6th Street entrance. Download directions
Thank you to all of the oyster purveyors who made DC on the Half Shell such a delicious event! Guests had the opportunity to engage with each purveyor and learn what makes their oysters so unique.
Every oyster shell from the event was brought back to a CBF Oyster Restoration Center to be used on sanctuary reefs throughout the watershed.
Annapolis Oyster Company
Severn River | Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis Oyster Company’s ‘Severn Sea Farm’ is located on the banks of the Severn River near the mouth of Weems Creek, approximately 3 miles from the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay. Their oysters are the product of their environment; owing to the brackish ecosystem of the Severn River, they have a balanced taste with a mild salinity and subtle sweetness.
Double 'T' Oyster Ranch
Herring Creek | Tall Timbers, Maryland
At Double T Oyster Ranch, they're not just about oysters; they're about a mission. Growing oysters is their way of serving their local estuary while inviting their community to celebrate the flavors of the Bay. Enhanced by the tidal flow from the Potomac River, their unique growing technique produces a distinct oyster with "Double T Cupped" shells—a true testament to the wild and rugged character of the waters they call home. Double T Oysters are salty, sweet, and “fat as butter!”
Full Measure Oyster Farm
Nadua Creek | Accomac, Virginia
Full Measure Oyster Farm is a true seed-to-table farm, powered by the sun, driven by the tides, and worked by the Chesapeake Bay. Their 100 percent Carbon Neutral operation plan and passion for aquaculture results in some of the region’s finest oysters. Located on the Nadua Creek, the mix of clean waters and hard bottoms gives their oysters a hint of fresh corn, limestone, and a sweet-salty finish.
Madhouse Oysters
Honga River | Hooper's Island, Maryland
Madhouse Oysters begin their life in the Hooper’s Island facility. This mid-Bay location fosters the subtle saltiness of their oysters. They are then moved to leased grounds in the mainstem of the Bay where the hard, sandy bottom yields an oyster with an exquisitely balanced flavor. While the oysters are growing on their leased grounds, they are working hard to filter the waters and provide habitat for underwater life. The presence of the seahorses on the farm (they love hanging on to the cages) is indicative of clean waters and a healthy ecosystem.
Matheson Oyster Co.
Mobjack Bay | Gloucester, Virginia
Just a few miles off the Chesapeake, settled in the Mobjack Bay, there is no way for Matheson Oyster Co. to hide from the elements. Their farm is fully exposed to wind, waves, and any kind of harsh conditions Mother Nature might throw their way. This location gives their oysters a rare balance of salty with a hint of sweetness that’s unique to the Mobjack Bay. Matheson Oyster uses an adjustable longline system to grow their oysters; this system channels the Bay’s wave action to naturally tumble and condition the oysters to create a deeper cup and stronger, cleaner shells. They stay suspended at the top of the water column so you’ll never find any grit: only clean, fresh meat.
Orchard Point Oyster Co.
Chester River and Eastern Bay, Stevensville, Maryland
Orchard Points are float-raised in the Chester River and the Eastern Bay. The wave tumbling yields a dense, consistent cup shape, and the high-water column placement imparts a clean flavor profile. They are known for their balanced flavor: gentle brine, nectar-sweet body, and a buttercream finish. "Little Salty, Little Sweet - Quintessential Chesapeake."
Contact Taryn Dwan, 443-482-2111 for more information.
This page was last updated on February 26, 2024.
