Oysters and Guinness

Saint Patrick’s Day doesn’t have to be just about over-sized hats and getting blind drunk.

Did the hallowed man drive all those snakes from the Emerald Isle just so that a collection of boozehounds claiming to be related to U2’s ‘The Edge’ could mis-remember the words to ‘Oh Danny Bhoy’? I think not.

Being a country with 3500 miles of coastline, Ireland has a very good pedigree when it comes to seafood. Combining their local produce with one of their most famous exports – Guiness – makes for an excellent dish. The saltiness of the oysters match the heavy texture and the malty flavours of the stout.

There is so much hearsay about oysters and the liquid black stuff that it almost builds up an air of  tension about enjoying them together.

Does Guinness taste better when it is served in Ireland?

As someone who has tasted both, I can say that this is indeed true, which is down to the water coming off the Liffey rather than that of the Thames.

Would you need to travel all the way to Ireland to get a stout that is enjoyable and goes well with the oysters? No, not at all.

Thankfully an effort was made today in London to promote a thorough celebration of the bounties of Ireland at the Adam & Eve pub in Fitzrovia, where they served up oysters and Guiness to celebrate this most momentous of days.

The aphrodisiac qualities of the molluscs are, generally, a little overrated, despite the insistence of the aphorism ‘oysters give you length, Guinness gives you strength’ which was displayed throughout the venue. That said, the presentation and the attention to detail made the oysters worthwhile and at £12, for six oysters and a pint of Guinness, was a very reasonable amount to pay.

The texture of the oysters was commendable, not rubbery or too flimsy, and hurried down your throat with the minimum of effort needed to extricate them from their shells. The combination of oysters and Guinness might not be the most obvious way to enjoy yourself on Saint Patrick’s Day but it was classier than faking a family history that dates back to the Battle of the Boyne and then vomiting into one of those ludicrous hats.

The Adam & Eve
77a Wells Street
Fitzrovia
W1T 3QQ

Tel: 020 7636 0717

Image by mccun934 courtesy of Flickr