Oyster ice cream
Oyster ice cream is a flavour of ice cream. Its existence has been attested since 1842.[1] Described as having a savoury taste, the ice cream flavour has been offered at a number of oyster festivals.
History
It was previously thought that eating oysters and ice cream together would be no good for one's health; some investigators in the 1930s claimed that this belief was unfounded.[2] Oyster ice cream was already in existence as early as 1824, when a recipe for it was given in Mary Randolph's cookbook, The Virginia Housewife.[1] In the past, when oyster ice cream was first introduced, it was deemed a luxury food that only the "upper classes" could indulge in, because ice was scarce and difficult to find back then.[3]
Preparation and description
According to Spanish-born chef José André, oyster ice cream is made by "gently heating oysters and cream", before freezing the product.[3] Robert Brantley, an ice cream researcher, describes oyster ice cream as "[e]ssentially [...] frozen oyster chowder [...] served [...] unsweetened".[1] Oyster ice cream is said to have a savoury taste, as opposed to a sweet one.[3]
Reception
Lorraine Eaton of The Virginian-Pilot wrote that one of her colleagues at work "had nearly thrown up" after tasting Eaton's homemade oyster ice cream; others had favorable criticism for the ice cream flavour.[4]
In popular culture and notable use
Mention of oyster ice cream is made in Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The ice cream flavour was well-liked by the author.[3] One tale, though deemed a myth, has it that oyster ice cream was "George Washington's favorite".[4] Two varieties of oyster ice cream were featured at the Colchester Oyster Festival in Colchester, Essex in September.[5] "Oyster-and-ginger" ice cream was served at the 23rd Oyster Festival in Arcata Main Street, which took place in June 2013.[6][7]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Miley Theobald, Mary (Winter 2010). "Some Cold, Hard Historical Facts about Good Old Ice Cream". The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
- ↑ "Oysters, Ice Cream All Right". The Milwaukee Journal. September 21, 1934. pp. 9–.
- 1 2 3 4 Shute, Nancy (November 23, 2011). "Oyster Ice Cream: A Thanksgiving Tradition Mark Twain Could Get Behind". NPR.
- 1 2 Eaton, Lorraine (February 12, 2009). "Oyster ice cream: This onetime delicacy divides palates today". The Virginian-Pilot.
- ↑ "Oyster flavoured ice cream at Colchester festival". Daily Gazette. August 28, 2012.
- ↑ Poor, Kaci (June 16, 2013). "Humboldt comes out for Oyster Fest despite changes". Times-Standard.
- ↑ KCRW's Good Food Video Blog features Chef Kyle Schutte making oyster ice cream using liquid nitrogen.
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