At this year's New England Oyster Festival in Newport, R.I., North America's top oyster shuckers and slurpers will compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to compete for national titles.
The Come Unhinged Shucking Competition will be held rain or shine at the Newport Yachting Center in downtown Newport, R.I., on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. The competition is part of the 20th annual Taste of Rhode Island.
Sponsored by American Mussel Harvesters of North Kingstown, R.I., the event draws competitors from across the United States and Canada. Each competitor will shuck 18 oysters as fast as possible. Judging parameters include speed and quality of the shuck. Time penalties are imposed for cut oysters, sloppy presentation or broken shells.
Last year's winner was David Leck of Elliott's Oyster House in Seattle. Leck won with a time of 1 minute, 58.37 seconds.
This year's first-place winner will receive $2,500 and limousine service to and from the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., for the Sunwine Festival Oyster Open in January 2009. Second-place finisher will receive $750 and third-place will receive $250; the top three finishers will all receive cash, a trophy and a Dexter Russell cutlery set. Oyster shuckers are required to bring their own blade to compete.
On Saturday, the winner of the Great Oyster Speed Slurp will win airfare, hotel and limousine service to the National Oyster Speed Slurp competition at Shaw's Crab House in Chicago, which coincides with the restaurant's annual Royster with the Oyster on Oct. 17.
Last year's NEOF winner was Jim Cerrigione III of Bolton, Conn., who downed 24 East Coast oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in just 16 seconds. He's won the event all four times it's been held.
Applications and complete rules can be found at www.newenglandoysterfestival.com.
