Maine Oyster Bites: The Guide

Behind each bite of seafood is a story. It could be a tale of the oyster farmer who spends hours each week tending to her thousands of oysters, nestled in cages bobbing on the water's surface. Or it could be the saga of a tuna fishermen, who toils for days off-shore wrestling the open ocean to catch a coveted bluefin.

Maybe it's the story of a place. The Damariscotta River is home to a 2,200 year history of oyster harvesting. The oysters from that region feast on an abundance of umami-rich phytoplankton and high salinity, which contributes to their briny flavor profile. My favorite way to celebrate Maine seafood is to combine different seafood offerings together in playful little bites. The melding of briny and umami flavors, the contrast of colors and textures, and the fusion of unique stories makes these oyster bites an absolute treat.

Each of the following recipes features an oyster paired with a different local seafood - sea urchin, wakame, and bluefin tuna.

I hope you enjoy experimenting with these Maine seafood creations. I wholeheartedly encourage you to get inventive with other local seafood and ingredients to craft your own curated bites as homage to the seas which feed us.