5.) Tyne Valley, PEI: The Malpeque
There are too many great oysters and people who grow them on PEI to feature just one, but Tyne Valley is the heart of oyster country on the island, and where the majority of seed comes from. This is the home of the Canadian Oyster Shucking Championship, held in the infamous Tyne Valley Hockey Arena. Technically, any oyster from PEI can be called a Malpeque (Crassostrea virginica), but even within the province, there are great differences in the oysters. (In 1898, the Malpeque oyster won gold at the World’s Fair in Paris and everyone on the island has used the name ever since.) In taste, the Malpeques strike a perfect balance between salty and sweet. In my opinion, the oysters to search out and taste are Green Gables, Colville Bay, Cascumpec Bay, Hardy’s Wilds and East Point Sand Dunes.
Where to find them: Start with the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival weekend (Friday night is the oyster grading contest in the Arena, Saturday has the shucking championships, with the Oyster Parade and Oyster Supper in the Fire Hall on Sunday). Other places to find oysters include The Claggagh House (Charlottetown), Carrs (Stanly Bridge) and The Lobser Shack and Inn (Bay Fortune Souris).
