Portrait of an Oyster Book

A beautifully illustrated celebration of the biology, culture, art, and taste of oysters—a perfect gift for the foodie or the artist in your life.

Everyone recalls eating their first oyster, just like they remember their first kiss …

Portrait of an Oyster delves beyond the shucked shell to reveal the rich and surprising world of the oyster and the artists, philosophers, explorers, and chefs the mollusk has inspired across the centuries. Illustrated with full-colour paintings, vintage advertisements, line drawings, and archival photographs, Portrait of an Oyster shares intriguing insights into the biology and cultivation of oysters as the author embarks on an expedition across Europe and North America to taste some of the world’s best.

Did you know that oysters shift their gender several times over the course of their lifetimes? They have one muscle that serves to keep their two shells clamped firmly shut, and a heart and basic circulatory system largely dependent on seawater—although they have no brain or known nervous system.

In the French region of Marennes-Oléron, where much of the technology of modern oyster farming was pioneered, oysters are still considered among the finest in the world. Like champagne, oysters from this region are protected by geographic distinction laws, with some even getting initials lasered into their shells to preserve their prestige. Portrait of an Oyster travels across France, Europe, and North America, sampling some of the best oysters and restaurants in the world, including in the UK and Copenhagen, and then Boston, New York, New Orleans, and San Francisco.

Hardcover: 192 pages