Dang. This was the most exciting food event I’ve ever been to. Oyster Roast! Watched some rad films and then they got us wasted and handed us shucking knives. They drove up a Penske truck of Bulls Bay Oysters from South Carolina. You gotta see the film about these oysters that film festival host and Travel Channel’s “Made in America”, George Motz, made. The film was right up Rusty’s alley.
Best oysters I’ve ever had. Huge shells. Once you crack it open, some came out big and some relatively small (but probably the small is the same size as a regular). And the flavor was perfect. Already salty and tasty. I didn’t even need any hot sauce that I love so dear.
The guys who brought the oysters from South Carolina were cool. One of the guys brought Pickled Shrimp that he makes —Mama’s Pickled Shrimp. That was delicious. I was trying to get Rusty to eat it somewhere in the night, but we got lost in the crowd that was attacking all the oysters …They almost got their butts burned from the hot shovels of roasted oysters running up behind them.
Also I really liked the Brunswick Stew that The Bedford brought. The best Brunswick Stew I’ve had so far. I was glad I was able to get Russ to eat it. Sometimes he forgets to eat when he parties.
I’m also glad I got to try the Doughnut Vault donuts. I actually thought it was a dream that I had one until I saw these photos. The Doughnut Vault had a line around the corner at 10:30 on that Saturday morning when we got into Chicago. We thought it was a line to see some awesome indie band or something.
Rusty’s Chicago friend, Ronnie Z, called me and I was trying to text him back but forgot to hit send because I was in the middle of a conversation. Two hours later, I saw that I hadn’t sent it and felt like shit. Once I hit send, he popped out of the darkness like a vampire …or like Nicholas Cage. I felt so bad. I think he was watching us party from the outside that whole time.
I woke up the next morning and Rusty had picked me up an Egg McMuffin and Hash Brown. Best cure for a hangover …or at least temporarily.
