Bi-Valve Curious: The Importance of Oysters
Channel: Nerd Nite East Bay
Date: 2014-05-12

Greg Babinecz at Nerd Nite East Bay #11, The New Parkway, 26-August-2013

Few foods create such a spark of excitement or gasp of revulsion in people. It certainly takes a culinary stalwart to slurp back his or her first briny bivalve. They are, after all, the only things we eat raw and alive besides each other. And, of course, we all know what they say about oysters. I'd be lying if I said that a few dozen have't led to some amorous activity in my past and will hopefully continue to do so. However, the true value of oysters to us goes way beyond their gastronomic provocation or role as an aphrodisiac. We'll discuss the historical importance of oysters in 19th century American development, oysters' lifecycles and ecological impact, and their role as the most sustainable form of aquaculture. We'll also explore what makes oysters so unique as to elicit so many cultural tributes such as poems, folklore, and festivals. You wouldn't, after all, find M.F.K. Fisher writing a book titled "Consider the Crab." Oh, and we're serving free oysters!

Greg Babinecz received his BA from Johns Hopkins University in 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. Working at a local fish market while completing a post graduate internship at University of Penn ignited Greg's interest in local, sustainable seafood. He spent two years in Central America working on Pre-Colombian archaeological projects and teaching English. Upon returning to the States 2010, Greg moved to San Francisco where began moonlighting at Waterbar, a Bay Area Top 100 seafood restaurant. In 2012, Greg quit his day job and began managing the raw bar full time at Waterbar, where he continues to further his knowledge of oysters, aquaculture and sustainable fisheries. He is devoted to local food sourcing, supporting the reinstatement of Oysters in the Bay through the Watershed Project, and spends whatever little free time he has writing his blog.

Credits
Bosses: Rick Karnesky and Rebecca Cohen
Video Editor: Ami Eaton and Rick Karnesky
Videography: Rebecca Cohen
Audio Recording: Katelyn Knight
Additional Thanks: Amber Crabbe and Kishore Hari