Everyone likes to eat. I do. In August I went to Latvia with my amazing wife to get married. We did the deed and celebrated this wonderful occasion with chebureki and “Bollinger” champagne. Was that a great combination? A greasy, fatty, salty food with the official champagne of the British Royal family? Yes, it was. Afterward, we went to a fantastic restaurant where we were served an eleven-course meal paired with exquisite wine. The name of this restaurant is “Barents”. Those of you who follow sommelier championships will know that the World Sommelier Champion of 2023 Mr. Raimonds Tomsons works at the said place. Not strictly at the restaurant as their sommelier, but he is one of the people who makes decisions concerning wine.
Anyway. I did not eat only sea urchins and langoustines. I also fell in love with oysters while in Latvia. My wife and I we went to an oyster event hosted at our favorite wine shop in Jelgava. Eight oysters from four different places. I could not recall from memory how all four of them tasted and what were their differences. But I can honestly say that after eating them fresh I would also like to taste Oysters Rockefeller as well.
Would you like to know what are Oysters Rockefeller?
Oysters Rockefeller is a classic American dish that features oysters on the half shell topped with a flavorful mixture of herbs, vegetables, and other ingredients, then baked or broiled until the topping is browned and the oysters are cooked through. The dish is often served as an appetizer in upscale restaurants and is known for its rich and savory flavors.
The original recipe for Oysters Rockefeller was created by Jules Alciatore, a French chef at the famous Antoine’s Restaurant in New Orleans, in the late 19th century. The dish was named after John D. Rockefeller, who was one of the wealthiest individuals of his time, due to the richness of the sauce.
The traditional ingredients for Oysters Rockefeller include a mixture of chopped green herbs (such as parsley, chervil, and tarragon), spinach or other leafy greens, butter, bread crumbs, and sometimes other seasonings like garlic and shallots. This mixture is often blended into a paste-like consistency and spread over the oysters before baking or broiling. The result is a dish that combines the briny flavor of the oysters with the rich, herby, and buttery topping.
Oysters Rockefeller is often considered a luxurious and indulgent appetizer due to the use of premium ingredients and the intricate preparation. It’s a dish that has stood the test of time and remains a popular choice for seafood enthusiasts and those looking to experience a taste of classic New Orleans cuisine.
Now you know.
Together with my father, we like to drive to a place called “Miltinkrogs” and eat a good old-fashioned Latvian lunch dish. Which in most cases consists of fries or fried potatoes with two salad options and a slice of chicken or pork. Beef is not that popular in Latvia. From the looks of it, I would say this dish for roughly 6.00 EUR is a good option when you want to stuff your belly full of deliciousness.
Or maybe you would be up for a simple burger with pulled pork and cabbage? Like this one below, which is also found at a place called (and mentioned at OLAAF more than once) “Noliktava Nr.2”. Simple yet superb. Paired with a 2016 Australian Shiraz wine is a combination made not in hell but in heaven. I guarantee it.
Is food the meaning of life? Artificial intelligence would say that it is not. I say it is. In the same way, I would argue that a scallop with Sherry and Sunchoke Harissa is a wonderful dish best enjoyed with a delicious white wine from Austria.
Oysters. Right, I forgot to add a picture of oysters. I did put a couple of paragraphs about Oysters Rockefeller but since I have not yet tasted them it seemed wrong to put a random picture of regular oysters in between the lines. Thus I am putting it here. These were the eight oysters mentioned earlier. If I remember correctly four of them were from France but not from the same place, two were from Ireland and two from the Netherlands. I enjoyed them all. I should probably try oysters in Brussels. Maybe tomorrow?
What is this blog really about? Is it about watches? No, because you have probably more than a million watch blogs and YouTube channels. Is this blog about food? No, for the same reason, this is not a watch blog. This is my blog. My website. Where I share things that I enjoy. Why else would I take photos of food, watches, movies, and cars? I don’t look at them while I am sitting on a toilet. I take those pictures to share them once I have enough of them to make a narrative. It will not always be clear and academic. But it would be OLAAF-ish.
Good luck out there and see you in Brussels.
Best,
Olaaf
