Saturday, February 23, 2008

Oysters - A Nutritionally Balanced Food


To me, oysters are one of the delicacies of the coast of North Carolina. I have fond memories of my Dad and I going to Matthews Landing to get oysters. He would buy a bushel and before leaving he would shuck two or three raw ones for each of us. During the winter months, there was no finer meal than steamed oysters with cornbread cooked in a cast iron pan.

It appears people either hate them or absolutely love them. There is no middle ground. I suppose its' their appearance that turns people off but these salty mollusk have a taste all their own and when eaten with drawn butter and cocktail sauce....
well, it's a symphony of sheer joy.

Also for those who love them, going to an oyster roast is as much a social event as a meal. Everyone gathers around a table with the steamed oysters poured down the center. While shucking, friends and family share stories and visit with one another. There is chatter about how good they are, who just opened the largest oyster, how long before some hot ones will be brought out, and how many can you eat or did eat last time. Even veteran shuckers giggle with delight when they open a big one.

Oysters are good for you too. They are one of the most nutritionally balanced foods, containing protein, carbohydrates, and lipids. The National Heart and Lung Institute suggest oysters as an ideal food for low-cholesterol diets. Oysters are an excellent source of Vitamin A, B1(Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), C (Ascorbic acid) and D (Calciferol). Four or five medium size oyster supply the recommended daily allowance of iron, copper, iodine, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and manganese and phosphorus.


Oysters are bivalve mollusks that can live up to 40 years and grow up to eight inches. In North Carolina the oysters (Crassostrea Virginica) are harvested at three years of age and about 3 inches. The population of oysters has declined over the past century due to habitat loss, pollution, diseases, and over harvesting. According to the North Carolina Federation, oysters are very important to our estuaries. These keystone species are a reflection of the health of the ecosystem. Restoring and keeping our native oysters healthy will help to keep our coastal waters and other aquatic species healthy.


Oysters are harvested from October to March with tongs, rakes, and by hand here on the coast. They dredge for them in the Pamlico Sound. Even though locals say oysters should be eaten only in months with r's, oysters really can be eaten 12 months a year. This started in the days when oysters where shipped with inadequate refrigeration and spoiling was problematic. Today all seafood is shipped refrigerated. However, some local restaurants still only serve steamed oysters during those months because they buy them from the Chesapeake Bay area.

Local Restaurants
T&W Oyster Bar and Restaurant - Highway 58, only 5 minutes from the John & Lucille Country Retreat.

Jordan's Restaurant - Emerald Isle, across from Bogue Inlet Drive, only 10 minutes from John & Lucille's


If you have had a good dining experience at an oyster bar, please add your comments to this blog.


Sources:
http://www.ncfisheries.net/
http://www.nccoast.org/
http://www.globalgourmet.com/
http://www.bartleby.com/

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Croatan National Forest - Only Minutes Away


The John & Lucille Country Retreat , located off Highway 58 in Stella, North Carolina, is surrounded by a vast area of the Croatan National Forest making it perfect lodging for hunters coming to the coastal region. The Retreat is 4 Bedrooms, 3 baths with an outside shower. There is a large carport for grilling as well as room to wash and park boats on the property. It's just a wonderful place to relax after a day of hunting or fishing and close to everything the Crystal Coast has to offer.

Croatan National Forest has some of the best hunting in North Carolina. All the surrounding water and lush forest provides exceptional habitat for deer, black bears, turkeys, waterfowl, osprey, and 'gators. There is great kayaking and canoeing on the rivers and lakes along with hiking trails for bird watching and just enjoying the beautiful forest. Mike Marsh in his article about Black Bears on the North Carolina Game and Fish Website states that, "the vast Croatan National Forest in Jones, Craven, and Beaufort Counties is one of the top produces for bear hunters in the coastal region." Of course, Croatan is a deer and duck hunters haven also.

According to the USDA Forest Service, Croatan National Forest is 160,000 acres of pine forest, saltwater estuaries, bogs and pocosins in Jones, Craven, Beaufort and Carteret Counties. It is bordered on three sides by the White Oak River, Trent River, Neuse River and mumerous creeks as well as Bogue Sound. It encompasses the towns and villages of Stella, Cedar Point, Cape Carteret, Maysville, Pollocksville, Havelock, and Newport with New Bern being nearby. It has three major lakes: Catfish Lake, Great Lake, and Long Lake. Major highways are NC 58, 17, 70, and 24 making driving to the forest easy.

Boat ramps in Croatan are at Catfish Lake, Great Lake, Cedar Point, and Haywood Landing. There is also a boat ramp at Stella on the White Oak River and Cedar Point at the Inland WaterWay.

For a brochure on Croatan call: 252-638-5628 or visit http://www.ncwildlife.org/
For additional information click on this link: Croatan and then click on Carolina Connections, for Cradle of Forestry page 16.

Visit John & Lucille's Country Retreat website for full list of ammenities and rates.

Friday, February 8, 2008

White Oak Duck Impoundment


Recently, a group of hunters coming to the area to duck hunt at the White Oak Duck Impoundment contacted me about staying at the John & Lucille Country Retreat. I was amazed that even after growing up in Stella, I wasn't aware of the impoundment. I have a keen interest and love for waterfowl, so I am excited to learn more about the duck impoundment. If anyone has information to share about the duck impoundment, please add your comments to this posting.

An impoundment is a civil engineering term used to describe an area where water is collected in a dam or reservoir. The White Oak duck impoundment is a flooded area constructed for the protection of waterfowl. It borders the White Oak River* on the Onslow County side, approximately 1/2 mile up the river from the Stella Bridge. The land (100 acres) was donated by Percy and Rachael Morton of Stella and the contruction was completed in 1995.

Water is pumped in and out of the White Oak River into the impoundment so as to maintain the brackish marsh and submerged vegetation as well as to keep the water somewhat level in the impoundment. A wide variety of duck species including mallards, gadwall, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, and shovelers benefit by this protected impoundment.

The John & Lucille Country Retreat is a perfect place to stay while hunting or fishing in the area. There is a boat ramp** at the Stella Bridge only 1/2 mile from the impoundment. The Retreat has plenty of parking spaces and room to park and wash a boat.

Picture: The pipe going from the river to the impoundment.

For more information,
visit http://www.stellacountryretreat.com/
or call 800-892-6775.


*The White Oak River flows from Hoffman Forest in Jones County into Carteret and Onslow Counties reaching Swansboro and Bogue Inlet. This blackwater river changes from fresh to brackish and then to salt water as it nears Swansboro and the Inland Waterway.



** There is a $5 charge to launch a boat at the Stella Bridge boat landing.