FOOD + ENTERTAINING
To prepare the oysters :
Begin by shucking oysters . Find a durable , thick cloth and fold it over several times to create a square ; this will steady the oysters as you shuck them and also protect your hand . Using the towel as a mitt , hold the oyster firmly on a flat surface . Insert the tip of your oyster knife between the shell halves and work it around one side to the other as you pry it open . Using the knife , cut the muscles away from the top , flat shell , bend the shell back and discard it . Run the knife underneath the oyster to detach it completely but leave it in its shell ( take care not to cut the meat itself ).
Nestle the oysters in a bed of crushed ice or wet rock salt to keep them steady . Serve immediately .
Recipes from Tyler Florence , food . com , and Claire McEwen , Sprinkles and Sprouts
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