Oysters and Clams Are Delicious and Best in the 'R' Month

When you grow up on the Chesapeake Bay, as I did, you look forward to fall for one very specific reason — months ending in the letter "R".

Those are the only months to harvest (and eat) clams and oysters. A rule that is driven into the heads of every child, and transplanted adult is that oysters should only be eaten in September, October, November and December — other months are growing and breeding times.

Friday night we used the excuse of celebrating the birthday of one of "the girls" as our R-month opportunity to hit . Elaine Warren, Joan Doherty (the birthday girl) and I allowed newbie, Leah Turner, to join us at the bar. And, without fail, Abu was there to shuck the oysters.

Abu Sylla, an emigre from Cote d'Ivoire, is a master shucker at Crisfield's, noting by touch and smell, the "good" oysters to plate. Our waiter/bartender, Jose, patiently filled and refilled our glasses and brought up plated varieties of seafood for which Crisfield's is known. Poor Leah, for her lifetime in Silver Spring, she had never slid a raw oyster out of its shell into her mouth. But she was not going to get away that night. A convert!

As our downtown Silver Spring "develops" and as new restaurants sprout up, this classic will remain as our everlasting favorite. Nothing takes the place of memories at Crisfield's. You mention the name to anyone in conversation and immediately a story pops up about their trips to the lovely little restaurant just beyond the overpass that dips Georgia Avenue, before you reach the District line.

You still have time to make an R-month adventure. But Christmas will be here before you know it and with New Year's so goes the clams and oysters! Get out there now ... before I eat them all!