Albemarle Tradewinds January 2016 Final5

HAVE AN OYSTER ROAST
By Jimmy Fleming mrflemz@embarqmail.com
Late fall and winter means many things to many people. To me and a lot of other down east folks, the cold weather
means the beginning of oyster season. Right down the road from Tyrrell County to the south is Rose Bay in neighboring
Hyde County. They are famous for their seafood and especially large, salty oysters. The price of a bushel of oysters
runs from $35-$55 depending on availability. Local oyster season usually starts in September and ends in April, but my
favorite oyster months are November through February. There’s nothing like standing around a fire pit on a cold frosty
evening, roasting or steaming a bushel of oysters with a group of friends. You can roast your oysters on a sheet of metal
over a wood fire (covering them with wet burlap sacks) or you can throw a few handfuls on the grate of your gas/charcoal
grill and cook them until the shells open. Some folks prefer to steam their oysters in a large steamer on a Coleman
gas stove. It doesn’t matter to me which method I use as long as I get to sample a sufficient number of raw ones
to determine the quality of the batch before and during cooking. If the oysters are large and salty, I prefer to not use
a dipping sauce but just an occasional saltine cracker to munch on. There are several dips that can be used if you like:
ketchup/horse radish, melted butter, hot sauce, and some folks like vinegar. I like to make my own ketchup/horse radish
dip by combining about a cup of ketchup, teaspoon of horse radish, pat of butter, splash of pepper vinegar, and dash
of black pepper. Stir the ingredients together and heat over the fire or in the microwave. Like Andy Griffith used to say,
“It’s goooooooooood!” The oysters that are not roasted or steamed can be kept several days in a cool, shady place, occasionally
wetting the burlap bag to keep them damp. You can shuck these oysters for freezing (worst choice), frying (best
choice), stewing, using in dressing/stuffing, pasta salads, etc. My advice to you is get a peck, ½ bushel, bushel, or bag of
tasty NC oysters in the shell this season, call some friends, make sure you have the appropriate beverages on hand, and
get outside in the crisp air and have a great time with your own Oyster Roast!
PLAZA AZTECA - #1 MEXICAN RESTAURANT by: C.L. Cooke
General Manager Junior Gonzalez and the staff at our areas premiere authentic Mexican eatery have
created a dining and social experience the whole family can enjoy. The cultural food is not only
exquisite, now the owners have adapted a 2016 menu and entertainment schedule to make PLAZA
AZTECA a social destination at lunch, after work, and for group gatherings. For starters, our local
conquistadors can ride the Mechanical Bull in January - who is brave and tough enough? And
check out the weekly schedule and specials with new menu pricing :
Sunday – Kids under 12 EAT FREE- a great time to introduce our youth to the world.
Monday – Buy 1 entrée and the 2nd is half-price – bring a date.
Tuesday – Tacos $0.99 – how many can you eat.
Wednesday - $5.99 lunch – employees who lunch together, work better together.
Thursday - $5 Taco Salad – our beautiful ladies love this for lunch or supper.
Friday – Karaoke – from 8 until u lose your voice or nerve.
Saturday - $5 Nacho Supreme – Hey Cisco; Hey Pancho: Let’s ride.
January 2016 will feature the $3.99 Margarita. If you might be a Tequila connoisseur ask for the
privately owned Mi Cosecha 100% puro de Agave. The bar items list a full and complete line of
traditional choices of beers, wines and whiskies. The list of choices for dining and entertainment is
extensive. The quality of food products and taste is unsurpassed. I must recommend though the
Chilerelleno , a wrap of eggplant, sour cream, salsa rojo, and cilantro as a tender, fresh, and tasty
choice. Add the Azteca Soup as a tasteful and warming side and your new found appetite for the fare
from South of the Border makes your dining experience a true culinary pleasure. Call 252/384-0163.
We open daily at 11am. Located on Halstead Blvd. Extended, across the highway from TJ Maxx, just
turn at the light. The beauty of PLAZA AZTECA would make Don Diego de la Vega very proud: “Z”
Business
Home
Auto
(252) 338-3322
(252) 482-2101
Boat
Renters
Workers Comp.
(252) 441-0810
(252) 793-5121
facebook.com/AlbemarleTradingPost Albemarle Tradewinds December 2015 15