(Image: Igor Yu)
This past Sunday, Rodney’s Oyster House, the centre of gravity for all things bivalve in Toronto, played host to the annual Ontario Oyster Festival. This was the 24th year for the seafood celebration, which raises money for Environmental Defense, an organization which promotes green causes ranging from clean beaches to banning BPA. The highlight of the day (and the event which brought us down there on a rainy Sunday): the crowning of the Ontario Oyster Opening Champion, who gets to go on to nationals in PEI.
Tickets for the event were $35, which came with two drink tickets and a plate of oysters or tacos. A wide range of libations was present to keep the crowd lubricated, including a special one-off oyster stout from Amsterdam Brewery, wine from Cave Spring and Iceburg vodka. The crowd feasted on boiled lobster, fried clam strips and mussels, in addition to the plentiful oysters which were brought in from Rodney’s own farm in PEI.
The oyster shucking saw Eamon Clark (the prodigal son of Rodney Clark) defend his title for the fourth year in a row against 30 other competitors, including former world champion and Guinness world record holder Patrick McMurray of Starfish (Clark and McMurray went head-to-head last year at nationals, with the former eking out a win in a shuck-off). Each competitor was given a bag of 21 oysters, from which they had to open 18; speed was not the only factor, however, with points allotted for cleanliness and separation of meat from the shell. In the end, Clark easily took the win, with a time of 1:54, while Lawrence David (Starfish) and Mark Moore (Rodney’s By Bay ) took second and third place, with 2:26 and 2:28, respectively. Despite the humid weather and a near-biblical thunderstorm, the Oyster Fest raised $15,000, with over 1,000 attendees (proof, if any were needed, that this non-coastal town loves its bivalves). With The Waxbills and Horshack providing live music, and Rodney’s neighbour Spin providing ping pong, the whole thing made for a genial way to spend a Sunday.
151921 Eamon Clark (centre) raises his first place trophy with Mark Moore and Lawrence David (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest110-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest110.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest110.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest110/ jul12oysterfest110 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151920 Lawrence David claims second place and a set of Calphalon cookware (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest105-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest105.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest105.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest105/ jul12oysterfest105 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151919 Third place winner Mark Moore accepts his trophy from Rodney Clark (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest102-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest102.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest102.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest102/ jul12oysterfest102 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151918 David Donnelly, Kendra Clark and Stephanie Kohls of Environmental Defence (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest97-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest97.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest97.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest97/ jul12oysterfest97 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151917 Sleeman beer ice cream drizzled with caramel (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest95-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest95.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest95.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest95/ jul12oysterfest95 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151916 Kelly Mac (right) and Eon Sinclair (left) of Bedouin Soundclash enjoy Sleeman-infused ice cream (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest94-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest94.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest94.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest94/ jul12oysterfest94 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151915 Dancing and tunes with Horshack (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest92-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest92.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest92.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest92/ jul12oysterfest92 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151914 Seafood feast of lobster, mussels and clam strips with fries (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest89-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest89.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest89.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest89/ jul12oysterfest89 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151913 Patrick McMurray of Starfish gets underway. In the end, he finished 10th (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest80-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest80.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest80.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest80/ jul12oysterfest80 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151887 Kelly Peck (right) and Brad Conrad (centre) represent Rodney’s in the shucking (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest_intro.jpg 656 438 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest_intro/ jul12oysterfest_intro 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151912 El Toro bares all for oyster shucking (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest67-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest67.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest67.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest67/ jul12oysterfest67 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151911 Event-goers sitting down to beer and oysters, naturally (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest62-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest62.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest62.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest62/ jul12oysterfest62 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151910 A busy crew shucking, non-competitively, for the hungry crowd (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest59-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest59.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest59.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest59/ jul12oysterfest59 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151909 Bobbing for Bivalves booth (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest58-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest58.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest58.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest58/ jul12oysterfest58 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151908 Kronenbourg 1664 beer being poured for a guest (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest57-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest57.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest57.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest57/ jul12oysterfest57 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151907 Colleen Cavanaugh, of Rodney’s by Bay, ready to go (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest52-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest52.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest52.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest52/ jul12oysterfest52 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151906 Competitors rushing to get their knives in (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest49-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest49.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest49.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest49/ jul12oysterfest49 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151904 Julius Chapple quizzing one of the competitors (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest46-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest46.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest46.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest46/ jul12oysterfest46 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151903 Playing it safe with a chain mail glove (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest44-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest44.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest44.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest44/ jul12oysterfest44 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151902 Oyster shucker competitor Tim Rozon (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest43-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest43.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest43.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest43/ jul12oysterfest43 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151901 Round 2 ready to begin (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest36-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest36.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest36.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest36/ jul12oysterfest36 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151900 Bill Murtaugh, one of the judges, scrutinizes the results of the first round (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest34-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest34.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest34.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest34/ jul12oysterfest34 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151898 The first heat (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest24.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest24/ jul12oysterfest24 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151897 Competitor racing to crack one open (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest22.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest22/ jul12oysterfest22 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151896 Julius Chapple, master of ceremonies for the festivities (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest19/ jul12oysterfest19 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151895 First place trophy for oyster-shucking competition (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest16/ jul12oysterfest16 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151893 Jay Mandarino (left) and Sabrina Crawford (right) place 1st and 2nd in Battle of the Bivalves (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest14/ jul12oysterfest14 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151892 Ready, set, slurp! (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest9/ jul12oysterfest9 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151891 The crowd looks on for Battle of the Bivalves (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest8/ jul12oysterfest8 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151890 Contestants prepping their oysters (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest5/ jul12oysterfest5 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151889 Atlantic oysters set up for Battle of the Bivalves (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest3/ jul12oysterfest3 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
151888 Julius Chapple, front of the house manager for Rodney’s, on the mic (Image: Igor Yu) Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 Ontario Oyster Festival 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12oysterfest1.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ontario-oyster-opening-championship/slide/jul12oysterfest1/ jul12oysterfest1 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)