UYE Oyster Slurp-Stravaganza @ Sea Salt

I ate four dozen oysters and drank three prosecco and vodka cocktails, all while wearing a little black dress and a classic strand of pearls. What an amazing Sunday! Thanks Kim D. for hosting such a fabulous event… in silver sequins and a tiara!!!

Showed up late as this was my third of what should have been six food stops in one day! But just had to cross that Bay Bridge on wet roads during weekend traffic to see JenniferCP and the event’s organizer-who-I-just-friended-but-she’s-so-cool KimD. Great host and very accommodating while everyone else was really nice. :D
Ten stars. Five stars just for meeting a bunch of new cool and long-​time Unilocalers. Ate 30 oysters and had a good time with lots of laughs for five more stars. Stayed longer than expected and had to bail on one event to do so, but it was all good. I’m glad I went and would give the same review even if there hadn’t been a happy hour. :D

My 200^th Review… reserved for one out of this world, most fun time I’ve ever had with a group of Unilocalers thus far!
It was raw oyster grubbin time at Sea Salt in Berkeley. It might’ve been raining at the time, but we didn’t care because inside it was raining Preston Points! Sitting atop a bed of rock salt, a platter of 30 bivalves came one after another. My method: slurp the oyster juice first. Add any garnish like the onion vinegarette or cocktail sauce, add a squeeze of lemon and pop it in my mouth like it’s nothin. Simple yet exquisite! I was a little weaksauce compared to other people. I probably only had 15 or so oysters, but I was more than satisfied.
The other food was delish as well. The fried smelt aka fries with eyes (love it!) were awesome. The dipping sauce was off the hook. I ordered the bacon, lettuce, and trout sandwich which came recommended by Ivy R, and she was dead on about it. One of the best fish sandwiches I’ve ever had in my life, hands down. My boy loved the mayo-​free radish slaw and the tossed arugula salad that came with it. The imbibe… The Pink Lady… simply delish as well! And for someone who doesn’t drink too often, the only one I had kinda hit me. Yeah. My alcohol tolerance is weaksauce.
Last, but most importantly, was the great company I was in. It was nice to finally meet some of my good Unilocaler friends in person for the first time (Ivy R, David B, Jason C: it was about time!) It was also nice to meet ones that I could finally put names to faces to (Greg G, Bill B, Jennifer CP, and Kim D.) And to the ones I’ve already met that I got a chance to see again (Camille and Ligaya.) Ligaya… it was awesome to actually sit down and converse for once! And for the Unilocalers that I just met that night who are now my Unilocal friends now (Selle A, Melissa!)
Mucho thanks to Kim D. for organizing such a fun event. Mucho props to you chica!
On an endnote/​personal anecdote about oysters: My lovie and I had a discussion on the drive back from the restaurant about how oysters are aphrodisiacs. He was saying that it’s probably because of the sexy way people slurp them down. It was then when I remembered how often he brought up my slurping up the oyster juice during dinner and how he thought it was hot. One word: Bowchickabowwow! LOL

Oyster Slurp-​Stravaganza was a perfect break from the season’s madness. This small and cozy event with my Unilocal friends was perfect. I loved every minute of it.
Our server Peter was amazing. And smiled as though he was truly enjoying himself. Maybe he was, we are a fun bunch. Thank you Peter
Kim, not only are you the prettiest lady on earth, you are a good hostess as well. Thank you
Sea Salt put out a fabulous spread, and I will be revisiting those deep fried smelt soon. Yummy
Ligaya it was nice to see you. You’re adored by all.
Greg and Crysthel, it’s always a pleasure to be with you guys.
But when all is said and done, I do have to say, the highlight of my day, was that I FINALLY, got to meet Victor G. Thank you for joining us Victor.

I wasnt trying to win an award for Oyster eating. I was just there for the cocktails. (As usual)
The Pink Lady cocktail was outstanding and I couldnt have recommended a better cocktail myself.
The «Mini» Lobster Roll was super duper delicious! MMMMMMM butter and Lobster on a roll. An Angel from heaven must have flown down whispered this into the chefs ear and then it was served to me, & Ligaya.
We had a great time and it was so nice to meet so many new people and ones that I knew but hadnt met yet like Grace L. Jennifer C P. and of course Bill B.
Thanks Kim D. for a slurp-​a-​licious event.
I didnt eat as many Oysters as others here but they were really good and a great center piece of an excuse to have a UYE.
Cant wait till the next UYE!

thanks kim d. for organizing this orgasmastic event. i came, didn’t i?
just like the oysters were arranged in trays of 30, sea salt had 3 tables ready for Unilocaling/​gulping oysters. (approximate 10 persons per table)
it was nice to see familiar names with new faces, new faces with new names, and faces with no names. all of the above shall remain nameless to shield the wirter’s poor memory.
sampling:
–white clam chowder (9) michael bauer lists this as one of the great chowders of the bay area. distinctive fresh broth with chucks of clams and potato. not too creamy and distinctive in clam flavoring.
–crispy smelt w/​green goddess dressing (comped) nice baby smelts
edible bones and all. healthier than chicken wings.
–laughing bird shrimp w/​lemon aioli (comped). came cold, tasted okay. probably would taste great at room temperature.
–dog face beer (3) at 9.5% alchohol this brew had punch.
–pink lady cocktail (6) smirmoff with… hey, 2 sips and it’s gone. i’m better off with a brew.
–oysters (20): found the preston points filmsy and lacking body, preferred miyagis which are more full bodied.
leftovers:
–seating too close together. couldn’t get up and mingle…
–peter didn’t clear dishes of someoe who left but took my beer before i was finished.
–street parking available.

This originally started as a testosterone-​fueled «I can down more oysters than you can» betwixt David B. and yours truly. The gauntlet was thrown; and we agreed to a duel at dawn. Well, not exactly: Happy Hour @ SS begins at 3pm on the weekends.
The weather was gorgeous (and so was I) when I left Casa D. at 2:15 but when JCP ended up sitting to directly to my right, we completely threw the balance of the universe out of whack; paranormal activities ensued, and it began to rain. At least swarms of locust did not descend upon us!
The awesome Caroline suffered through extensive email exchanges and I give her 10 stars for that — and even made a custom champagne cocktail «The Pink Lady» for us. She rocks.
Chef Anthony and his crew were prepared for us… and kind enough to treat us ON THE HOUSE to Laughing Bird Shrimp w/​lemon aioli; lighly battered and perfectly crisp smelt w/​green goddess dressing aka «fries with eyes» and delicious french fries, with the perfect amount of kick.
The Preston Points that I’d requested were fantastic, as always. Some of us were delayed by the rain, but others showed up early… I had been fasting for my throw-​down with David B. and was a litle cranky for a few moments.
WHAT THE SHUCK IS TAKING SO LONG?
But then again, we did slurp down just under 700 oysters… and ever considerate: the Sea Salt Crew shucked to order, so that we got the freshest, coldest, bivalves possible. So no complaints there… and the price point and service couldn’t have been beat…
My only gripe was with David B… who sat and slurped away with abandon, while I was handing out name tags, welcoming all who attended and basically being a fabulous hostess. Not that I’m bitter or anything. Because I did too much talking, I was not able to beat David B. who is the official winner of the Slurp-​Stravaganza, downing 69 oysters.
Our server, Peter was at the top of his game, and I hope that whenever y’all return to Sea Salt, you will ask for him by name. He was our man a few weeks ago when Caveman dropped in… and he really did us a solid, and I say that about very, very few servers, because I am one picky b*tch when it comes to service.
I gifted the entire crew with a bottle of 30 year old balsamic vinegar (DOP, of course!) and figured Chef Anthony will have fun playing with it and treating his much deserving staff with some decadent treats.
Oh — a special thanks to all the ladies who worked the pearl theme… Camille K. is jaw-​droppingly gorgeous, and in my next life, I want to be reincarnated as she. I’m thinking the odds are good, becuause she was rocking her pearls and fierce peacock feathered headpiece. ENVY.
Thank you, Ligaya, for braving the rain to join us and deliver Unilocal pins and Name Tags. I even got a Festivus Smooch from her on the cheek — so I’m still afterglowing and giddy as hell.
Maybe that’s why I DID hit Good Vibrations before heading home. It is Caveman’s birthday today, afterall… and hey — you know what they say about oysters!
5 Stars. Thank you to all who showed up, and major thanks to all at Sea Salt who made our fête possible.
*muah*
K