CT Visit Unveils "CT Oyster Trail" Celebrating Local Oyster Agriculture

From rising tide to table, Connecticut is your Oyster…

Connecticut continues to be a dominant player in the food and beverage industries proving that we’re so much more than pizza and beer. With the rising number of award-winning and nationally acclaimed restaurants, it just makes sense that we celebrate the role that our oysters play in our culinary prowess

CTBites was invited to a special press event as Connecticut Tourism’s department, CTVisit, unveiled the launch of The Connecticut Oyster Trail celebrating all things oysters from the farmers who raise them to the restaurants and stores that sell them. Popularity in Connecticut oysters has certainly blossomed over the past few years and there’s good reason.

The state’s advanced recycling programs improve water quality, habitats for marine life and shoreline protection and follows sustainable aquaculture practices. In the late 1800s Connecticut was deemed “the oyster capital of the world” and with over 70,000 acres of active shellfish farms, from Stamford to Stonington, we are well poised to earn that title back! The Connecticut Oyster Trail currently features 13 farms, 22 restaurants and 10 stores.

How to enjoy an oyster

Look for the following 6 elements when enjoying your oysters:

• Appearance – Eat (and enjoy) with your eyes first. Assess the oyster and the shucking – what does the shell look like? It is smooth, bumpy, barnacle covered?

• Aroma – Smell your oyster. It should smell like the ocean, clean and breezy.

• Taste – Sip the juice (the liquor). What are the flavors? Is it salty? briny? Is it slightly sweet, or have a slight umami flavor? 

• Flavor – Chew the oyster a couple of times to really bring out the flavors. 

• Mouthfeel – What is the texture and body like?

• Aftertaste – What flavors linger on your tongue and lips after you’ve finished?

Some fun facts about Connecticut Oysters:

• The oyster is recognized as the State Shellfish

• Connecticut harvests 20 million oysters each year and Oyster Production generated over $12.5 million in sales in 2023 alone

• Oysters are harvested in 19 coastal Connecticut towns

• The shell fishing industry provides hundreds of jobs annually

• Oysters can filter over 30 gallons of water daily which is beneficial in removing harmful toxins

• The state’s shell recycling programs enhance oyster and marine habitats and improve water quality

• Recreational shell fishing contributes $1.6 million to the state’s economy annually 

•  It’s a MYTH that oysters are only good in the months with the letter R!

Local oyster farms on the CT Oyster Trail include:
Mystic Oysters, Stratford Point Oysters, Aquaculture Center Oysters, Noank Oysters, Riverhawk Oysters, Hammonasset Point Oysters, Leetes Island Oysters, Niantic Bay Oysters, Copps Island Oysters, White Rock Oysters, Sixpenny Oysters, Stella Mar Oysters and Stoning Farms Oysters.

You can find these oysters in the following CT Oyster Trail stores:
H&H Seafood in Bridgeport, City Fish Market in Darien, Tony & Sons in Oakville, Gulf Shrimp Company in Pleasantville, New Wave Seafood in Stamford, Paganos Seafood in Norwalk, Seawell Seafood in Mystic, The Fish Market in Willimantic, and Valley Fish Company in East Granby.

When dining out look for CT oysters at the following CT Oyster Trail establishments:
S&P Oysters in Mystic, Oyster Club in Mystic, Fairhaven Oyster Company in New Haven, Max Oyster Bar in West Hartford, The Wharf Restaurant in Madison, Ripka’s Beach Café in Norwalk, Litchfield Saltwater Grille in Litchfield, Water Street Café in Stonington, Boca Oyster Bar in Bridgeport, Luca’s Local Oyster Bar in Southbury, La Plage in Westport, L’Escale in Greenwich, Shell & Bones in New Haven, Max Fish in Glastonbury, Shellfish in New London. Tony D’s in New London, Flander’s Fish Market in East Lyme. Fresh Salt in Old Saybrook, Liv’s Oyster Bar in Old Saybrook, and The Dock in Waterford. 

We would very much like to thank CT Visit and Shell & Bones for hosting us. We’d also like to thank Stonington Shellfish, Noank Oysters, Bell’s Shellfish Company, Briarpatch Enterprises, Copps Island, Oysters, and Mystic Oysters for filling our bellies with such delicious mollusks, and your graceful shucking demonstrations — all barehanded, ungloved and unnicked! 

We’d also like to think, Saltwater Farm Winery, Aquila‘s Nest Vineyard, and Jones Family Farms and Winery for supplying us with the perfect pairing wines.

For more information please visit The CT Oyster Trail