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An Ode to Florida's Forgotten Coast

September 7, 2008 at 1:44 PM | by Victor Ozols | 1 Comment

We've always been fascinated with Florida's Gulf Coast, which has all of the sun and surf of the Atlantic side, minus the crowds, expense, and attitude. Today's Washington Post travel section has a nifty item on the town of Apalachicola that makes us want to zip on over for an extended weekend of oysters and air conditioning.

The story's author, an Apalachicola resident herself, introduces us to John Gorrie, the city's most famous resident who invented air conditioning and refrigeration in the 1840's. While Gorrie died before his scientific breakthrough was fully appreciated, today the town - heck, the entire state of Florida - remains deeply indebted to him. Can you imagine Florida without air conditioning?

With a population of fewer than 3,000 people, you'd be surprised at the number of entertainment options in Apalachicola. Hepcats probably won't find the martini bar of their dreams, but the walkable city has 100 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 85 miles of designated hiking trails through the sprawling Apalachicola National Forest (do not feed the alligators, they will bite you), and more sublime seafood restaurants than you can shake a stick at.

It's all about the oysters in Apalachicola, which are some of the world's best, and the Owl Cafe is called out as the place to go for everybody's favorite bivalve, both raw and cooked. Try them both ways, sip the wine or beer of your choice, and savor the climate-controlled beauty of the "Redneck Riviera."

[Photo: Washington Post]

Related Stories:
· Old Florida on the Half Shell [Washington Post]
· Oyster Coverage [Jaunted]

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Best Raw Bars :: DC's Sea Catch

Where: 1054 31st Street, NW [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20007
August 7, 2008 at 1:00 PM | by BS | 0 Comments

When looking for a raw bar, sometimes you want a dingy little seafront shack full of locals cracking open shellfish that were caught that morning. Sea Catch is definitely not that.

Set in a 150-year-old Georgetown mansion, there's nothing quaint about the restaurant's 31-foot, white marble raw bar. But what it lacks in homeyness Sea Catch makes up for with its gigantic list of always-fresh seafood. Not exactly for locavores, the place offers several dozen types of oysters from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. There are also farm-raised mussels, clams, shrimp, stone crabs and house-smoked salmon.

Plus there's the ridiculously over-the-top $80 shellfish skyscraper, a giant mound of all the above topped with lobster cocktail and jumbo lump crab meat. Not quite your style? Come back for the $1 raw bar happy hour.

Related Stories:
· Sea Catch Restaurant [Official Site]
· Best Raw Bars coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Sea Catch]

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Are You Ready for the Oyster Opening Championships?

March 6, 2008 at 9:15 AM | by amandak | 1 Comment

There are all kinds of odd reasons to visit Sweden. We're quite keen on the nuclear power plant tours for a start. But come April, we have one more excellent reason to head there: April 19 brings us the annual Oyster Opening Championships, held in Grebbestad.

The aim of a champion oyster opener is simple:

To open 30 oysters in the shortest possible time, without bloodshed, and present them in an attractive way on a tray.

So obviously you've gotta be into oysters to get a kick out of this particular event. Locals recommend washing down an oyster meal with some of the local beer, Grebbestads Bryggeri. Sounds like the kind of beer whose name only gets easier to say when you've had quite a few.

Related Stories:
· Oyster Opening Championships [Official Site]
· A Slice of Swedish Soul [UK Times]
· Extreme Tourism: Nuclear Power Plants in Sweden [Jaunted]
· America's Best Raw Bars Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: Basenisa]

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Missed Connections in Washington, DC: Park That Campaign Plane Next To Me

February 1, 2008 at 2:45 PM | by egw | 0 Comments

We based last week's Missed Connections post on a presidential primary, but guess what? Next week is Super Tuesday, and no way can you or anyone look for The One in 24 places at once. Even harnessing the power of the Internet, how would you ever get around to meeting all those people?

If you're in search of the politically minded, though, try the District, which unexpectedly finished in Forbes' top 10 cities for singles. Ask him or her out for President's Day instead of Valentine's Day--there's far less pressure to have a good time.

Green Lantern -- Share your travels at this "just-right" pub and club which also caters to you weekend workaholics with a Sunday happy hour. (Maybe there's one in every House?) 1335 Green Ct. NW

Eighteenth Street Lounge -- While DC Bachelor says this club was over by the time of the Kerry-Edwards campaign, that doesn't mean you can't learn to tango with a funny guy. 1212 18th St. NW

Old Ebbitt Grill -- The shirts are stuffed to order at this classic oyster bar and steakhouse, but that doesn't mean you can't have a civilized chat at the bar. 675 15th St. NW

Related Stories:
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]
· Washington, DC Hotels [HotelChatter]

[Photo: timoni]

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Best Raw Bars :: Dan & Louis in Portland

Where: 208 SW Ankeny St. [map], Portland, OR, United States, 97204
November 8, 2007 at 3:05 PM | by pbb | 0 Comments

A friend of Jaunted checked in from Portland, where he's been passing a week's vacation among nature. He even got a chance to check out the city's bike scene, which he says is even better than we reported.

But the real reason he got in touch was to tell us about Dan & Louis Oyster Bar, a killer raw bar celebrating its centennial this year. What made it so good?

I got a dozen oysters for $9.95, and threw in a glass of wine and a big tip for a bill that came to $22. Had some Yakima Bays--an East Coast transplant oyster--and Oregon Kumamotos. It's my second time there, and I'm only in town for a week.

Sounds like the kind of place we want on our raw bars map.

Related Stories:
· Dan & Louis Oyster Bar [Official Site]
· Best Raw Bars Map [Jaunted]
· Portland coverage [Jaunted]

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Best Raw Bars :: Grand Central Oyster Bar

Where: Grand Central Terminal [map], New York, ny, United States, 10017
October 19, 2007 at 3:05 PM | by pbb | 0 Comments

Shucking season is here, and we're searching for the top raw bars. Our map has the exact locations of the best briny bivalves.

And you thought we weren't going to mention it. Come on. The historic Grand Central Oyster Bar is as much an homage to New York as it is an ode to oysters. Since 1913, harried commuters, big-money bankers and star-crossed lovers have bellied up to this long raw bar to share big platters of seafood while the trains rumble overhead.

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Best Raw Bars :: Elliott's Oyster House

Where: 1201 Alaskan Way [map], Seattle, WA, United States, 98101
October 18, 2007 at 3:01 PM | by pbb | 0 Comments

Shucking season is here, and we're searching for the top raw bars. Our map has the exact locations of the best briny bivalves.

While San Fran's Swan has its share of devotees, we could never overlook the best place on the West Coast for oysters: Seattle. And while we know it's a bit touristy, Elliott's Oyster House deserves all those guidebook mentions. With a deck overlooking Elliott Bay, there's no better place to order a platter and enjoy the Emerald City.

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Best Raw Bars :: Swan Oyster Depot

Where: 1607 Polk St. [map], San Francisco, ca, United States, 94109
October 17, 2007 at 4:15 PM | by pbb | 1 Comment

Shucking season is here, and we're searching for the top raw bars. Our map has the exact locations of the best briny bivalves.

San Francisco's restaurant scene moves almost as fast as New York's, with chef shake-ups and lease-swapping happening all the time. But at Swan Oyster Depot, the barkeeps aren't messing with success: This simple, 19-seat seafood emporium's been shucking since 1912. The place maintains its old-school vibe, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

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Best Raw Bars :: Neptune Oyster

Where: 63 Salem St. [map], Boston, ma, United States, 02113
October 16, 2007 at 3:15 PM | by pbb | 0 Comments

Shucking season is here, and we're searching for the top raw bars. Our map has the exact locations of the best briny bivalves.

Cape Cod has more than its fair share of clam shacks and raw bars. But what's a sophisticated urbanite to do--you won't make the gallery parties if you're driving back from the country. Fortunately, Boston's Neptune Oyster has you covered when you want to slurp seafood in the city.

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Best Raw Bars :: The Naked Oyster

Where: 20 Independence Dr [map], Hyannis, MA, United States, 02601
October 15, 2007 at 3:15 PM | by pbb | 0 Comments

Shucking season is here, and we're searching for the top raw bars. Our map has the exact locations of the best briny bivalves.

While Maine has its lobster, Massachusetts is the capital of New England oysters. And now that we're in the heart of the season, the Naked Oyster on Cape Cod is loading up on local seafood. Park yourself along at the long mahogany bar, and settle in for a feast.

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