On Saturday, October 29, the Chesapeake Maritime Museum in St Michaels, Md. will host its annual oyster stew competition as part of OysterFest.
Oyster stew competitors include Sunflowers and Greens of Easton, Md., Bistro St. Michaels, Roy’s Kwik Korner of Glen Burnie, Md., Gourmet by the Bay, and Theo’s Steaks, Sides & Spirits, both of St. Michaels, Md.
Festival goers are encouraged to sample oyster stews beginning at 11:00 a.m. and while the limited tastings last. Participation is limited to the first 500 on a first-come, first-served basis, with a commemorative OysterFest mug and the tastings offered for $10 per participant. This stew competition takes place on CBMM’s Fogg’s Landing and is sponsored by Hair O’ The Dog Wine & Spirits and Easton Eye Care.
The blind taste test awards bragging rights to the chef with the most votes, with the People’s Choice winner announced at the festival and later to the public. Bistro St. Michaels Executive Chef Matt Robbins was deemed first place winner at last year’s OysterFest.
Lead OysterFest sponsors include Kelly Distributors, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, George’s Bloody Mary Mix, and Fordham Brewing. Chesapeake Landing is sponsoring the oyster shooter bar, and Lyons Distilling Company is sponsoring spiked cider,which will be served with other libations at Rosie’s Tavern.
Local chefs fromTheo’s Steaks, Sides & Spirits of St. Michaels, Md., Three Sixty at River’s Edge of Cambridge, Md., Pot Pie Farm of Wittman, Md., and Washington Street Pub& Oyster Bar of Easton, Md.will offer cooking demonstrations of signature oyster dishes throughout the day.
At the Tolchester Beach Bandstand, festival-goers can watch or participate in an oyster slurping contest, with preliminary rounds taking place on the hour from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with the final contest at 1:45 p.m.
This year’s OysterFest also features the 2016-2018 restoration of the log-hull sailing bugeye, Edna Lockwood, which is now underway and in full public view at CBMM’s boatyard. In 1889, at the age of 24, John B. Harrison of Tilghman Island, Md. built Edna E. Lockwood, the seventh of 18 bugeyes he was to build. As a workboat, Edna dredged for oysters through the winter and carried freight, such as lumber, grain or produce, after the dredging season ended.She was donated to CBMM by John R. Kimberly in 1973, and named a National Historic Landmark in 1994, representing the last historic log-bottom bugeye still under sail. Project updates and more about the historic bugeye’s restoration can be found at www.ednalockwood.org.
Admission to OysterFest is $5 for CBMM adult members, or $18 for adults; $15 for seniors and students with ID; and $6 for children 6-17. CBMM members at the Family & Friends level and above also receive the $5 discounted admission for two adult guests. Food, drinks, and boat rides are an additional cost, with carry-on alcohol prohibited. For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, with leashed dogs permitted during regular operating hours. Proceeds from the event support CBMM’s education, restoration, and exhibition programs, with advanced tickets and more information at www.cbmm.org/oysterfest.
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