You can enjoy oysters so many different ways!
The first day of winter is next week, and nothing says winter more than a hot bowl of creamy Maryland oyster stew. Oysters have been a staple of the Maryland diet ever since the first settlers stepped foot on Maryland soil. Since then, Marylanders have been perfecting oyster stew into a creamy, hearty dish that exudes winter comfort.
The Oyster Wars
Oysters were a staple in the diets of the Native Americans in what would eventually become Maryland. When settlers first landed on Maryland’s shores, they were surprised to find a robust oyster population. Oysters were also a staple of the European diet, so the European settlers took solace in having oysters as a food source that reminded them of their homes. As time progressed, oysters became a highly sought-after food, with ships dredging oysters out of the Chesapeake Bay for popular consumption. The Chesapeake Bay supplied nearly half of the world’s oysters as oyster production exploded after the Civil War, dredging hundreds of millions of bushels of oysters from the bay. However, during the latter half of the nineteenth century, some of the other fishermen in New England were unable to produce large enough oyster harvests, so they began to dredge for oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. This is when the Oyster Wars occurred. Between New England fishermen encroaching on Chesapeake Bay territory, the disputed boundary lines of Virginia and Maryland and the lawlessness of the waters, many opportunists were taking to the bay to do whatever they could to take control of the oyster supply. These Oyster Wars were finally put to rest in 1959 when the Maryland fisheries police attacked a crew of fishermen who were illegally dredging the waters.
Oysters Today
Today, oysters have only environmental issues to worry about. Pollution and overfishing have led to decreased oyster populations worldwide, but environmentalists are taking steps to help the oyster population regain control. A new breed of oyster in the Chesapeake Bay, the Crassostrea virginica, is more robust than the traditional oyster. These growing oyster populations, combined with cleanup efforts on the Chesapeake Bay, have had a positive effect on the oyster industry, as Maryland and Virginia both reported their best oyster harvest within three decades. The oyster is making a comeback, so now is the best time to make a big batch of comforting Oyster Stew!
MAKE YOUR HOLIDAYS SPECIAL WITH COSTAS INN!
Costas Inn has been a family owned and operated restaurant for over 40 years. We were recently voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by local expert Tamar Fleischman of USA Today, putting us in the company of other prestigious restaurants like Cinghiale, Aldo’s, Pazo, Miss Shirley’s, and The Prime Rib! We were also voted #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal! You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for anytime eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! You can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Tags: oyster stew, oysters
