Several Grand Isle Port Commission (GIPC) AOC Oyster Farmers recently participated in two major local events during Super Bowl week, highlighting the role of sustainable oyster farming and showcasing Grand Isle’s premium oysters.
Coastal Restoration Project – February 3, 2025
The first event took place on Monday, February 3, 2025, in Leeville, where volunteers worked on a coastal restoration project to create a living shoreline using oyster shells recycled from 40 local restaurants. A total of 59 tons of oyster shells were collected, sanitized, and placed into aquaculture-grade mesh nylon bags by volunteers from the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and Chefs Brigade, supported by a grant from NOAA.
Kirk Curole, owner of Bayside Oysters, contributed to the event by shucking and serving his farm-raised oysters on the half shell to volunteers. Kirk shared, “This was a great event for exposure to my business, and I received a lot of great feedback on the taste of my oysters.”
Citywide Oyster Night – February 5, 2025
On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, the Chefs Brigade organized a citywide Oyster Night, celebrating “The Protein that Built New Orleans.” Approximately 100 restaurants participated, serving a variety of oyster dishes, including selections from off-bottom oyster farms.
- Nathan Herring, owner of Brightside Oysters, shucked and served his boutique oysters at Café Degas in Mid-City, where a packed house enjoyed his fresh oysters. Nathan remarked, “This event was for a great cause and helped raise awareness for my oyster business.”
- Ryan Anderson, owner of Little Moon Oysters, contributed by featuring his oysters on the menu at Juniors Restaurant in downtown New Orleans.
Showcasing Grand Isle’s Oyster Farming Legacy
Weldon Danos, GIPC Executive Director, attended both events and praised the farmers, stating, “Our GIPC Oyster Farmers did a tremendous job representing Grand Isle oysters. There are no better-tasting oysters than the off-bottom oysters grown on the aquaculture farms in Bayou Rigaud. Grand Isle was the birthplace of AOC Oyster Farming, and the demand for these exceptional oysters continues to grow.”
These events not only celebrated sustainability and coastal restoration but also helped promote Grand Isle’s world-class oysters to a wider audience.