Oyster Culture
On windy, cold Friday, December 30th, folks gathered at the Fish House for the 11th annual Oyster Roast hosted by the Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association. It was a hearty scene with lots of locals and visitors chatting over tables full of steaming, delicious oysters. Not to mention plates of shrimp and hushpuppies accompanied by bowls of delectable fish stew!
The OWWA holds this event every year to raise money for the nonprofit. The organization helps Ocracoke’s fishermen to bring in this vital food resource for our town! OWWA operates the Ocracoke Seafood Company, which sells to wholesalers located off the island and has a retail store right on the harbor. OWWA also works to educate the public about the benefits of wild-caught seafood and the commercial fishing industry.
We spoke to island resident Molly Lovejoy about the importance of this. “Nothing is more crucial than--” Molly was saying, but was interrupted with Maddie Payne’s “hushpuppies!!” (so true).
“Well yeah, that too, but supporting local fishermen in communities like Ocracoke.” Well said, Molly! It’s wonderful to see our community and people who care about this place rallying around the success of this very important nonprofit.
And the Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association certainly gives back. Not only do they work relentlessly hard to keep this part of Ocracoke’s culture alive, they give us the best gathering right before each New Year! For a donation of 30 dollars, you get all you can eat in scrumptious seafood, plus the exquisite company.
I spoke with Doug and Kathy, who referred to the event as a fun day with people that come from all over the place for this gathering. “And we talk politics and everything else!” Doug added with a smile. “We come all the time to buy fish here. We love Pattie,” Kathy told me. “We like oysters that are roasted on a cold day in the wintertime,” said Doug.
The oysters, which were nice and huge, came from the James River. According to Pattie Plyler, who runs the retail at the Fish House, many of them came with 2 or 3 crabs inside! Good and salty, beautiful oysters were being served up and shucked in the sunny cold today. They had 45 bushels of oysters this year, and over 300 lbs of shrimp to share!
“I think it’s the best we’ve ever had! We’ll have to make more stew next year!” Pattie said of the wonderful turnout of people. It’s true – fish stew is so popular that they were plum out after the first hour! But they made sure nobody left hungry – in addition to the all-you-can-eat shrimp and oysters, there was a nice array of desserts down at the Working Watermen’s Exhibit in the Community Square, where Robin Payne was serving hot cider and chatting with the guests.
I got to talk with a man and his mother who were from Raleigh, North Carolina who have been coming here since 1994. He said it started out as one annual visit for him, and now he and his family come to the island five or six times each year. “Some people say I’m predictable, but I found the place that I love,” he said over a plate of shrimp peels.
I think it’s really moving to see how many people care about our community and efforts to preserve our resources and culture. On a day such as this, that caring becomes very evident, with people gathered around in hats and scarves sharing a laugh over a long shucking table.
“To me, island seafood means family because of Pattie,” said Pattie’s niece, Jenna, who came all the way from New Jersey with her family, and was kept very busy during the whole event helping out behind the counter in the fish house. So many people seem to share a connection to this place and its fresh seafood. I think these are the best images of our home we can take with us into the new year.
If you had to miss this magnificent hullaballoo, never fear! Pattie will have the Ocracoke Seafood Company shop open starting at 11am, until she has sold out of all her fresh shrimp, oysters, and crabmeat, so come and get it! And pick up some delicious scallops while you’re at it, there are plenty down at the fish house and the best part is they freeze super well, so you can enjoy them any time!
